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    Chess Openings

    King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses

    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 · ECO E90

    King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3. White: pawn on c4, pawn on d4, pawn on e4, knight on c3, knight on f3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on f2, pawn on g2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, bishop on f1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, knight on b8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on e7, pawn on f7, bishop on g7, pawn on h7, pawn on d6, knight on f6, pawn on g6.

    King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses is a chess opening that arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3. It is classified E90 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has black to move. The King's Indian Defense lets White build a large pawn centre unopposed, then attacks it from a fianchettoed setup. Black deliberately concedes space in the opening in order to strike back with e5 or c5 and generate a kingside attack that is often decisive.

    Strategic character

    The classic King's Indian is a race: White plays on the queenside where the space advantage is, Black pushes pawns at the white king on the other wing. Because both attacks proceed independently, the games are unusually sharp and rarely end in draws.

    Who should play it

    Attacking players who want unbalanced positions with Black and are willing to accept worse positions objectively for practical winning chances.

    This line is a variation within the King's Indian Defense family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3.

    Variations continuing from this position

    Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3. Open any of them to load the position on the board.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses?
    The King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses is a chess opening that arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3. It is classified E90 in the ECO system. The King's Indian Defense lets White build a large pawn centre unopposed, then attacks it from a fianchettoed setup. Black deliberately concedes space in the opening in order to strike back with e5 or c5 and generate a kingside attack that is often decisive.
    What are the moves of the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses?
    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3. After these moves it is black to move.
    Is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses good for beginners?
    Attacking players who want unbalanced positions with Black and are willing to accept worse positions objectively for practical winning chances.
    What variations come from the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses?
    Named continuations include King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation, King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, King's Indian Defense: Zinnowitz Variation, King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation, King's Indian Defense: Exchange Variation. There are 26 named variations reachable from this position in total.