Openings Flank openings
King’s Indian Attack (KIA): Setup, Plans and Stats by Rating
The King’s Indian Attack is a setup more than a line: Nf3, g3, Bg2, O-O, d3, Nbd2 and e4, played against almost anything. It is the King’s Indian Defense with colors reversed and an extra move, and White often follows with e5 and a kingside attack.
A07King's Indian Attack
Games from this position (1600–1999): 15k
- 1.
- 2.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21% | 3,137 | ||
| 21% | 3,125 | ||
| 20% | 3,020 | ||
| 9% | 1,361 | ||
| 7% | 1,106 | ||
| 7% | 986 | ||
| 6% | 952 | ||
| 2% | 260 | ||
| 2% | 237 | ||
| 0.9% | 135 | ||
| 0.7% | 102 | ||
| 0.6% | 85 |
Plans for both sides
White
- Build the setup first; the e4 push, and later e5, decide the plan.
- Against ...e6 and ...c5 (French or Sicilian setups), e5 gains space, and Re1, Nf1, h4 and Bf4 build the kingside attack.
- Against ...c6 with ...Bg4 or ...Bf5, play h3 or e4 to ask the bishop where it is going.
Black
- ...d5, ...Nf6, ...c5 and ...Nc6 claim space; queenside play with ...b5–b4 races White’s kingside attack.
- When you can, develop the c8 bishop before ...e6: ...Bg4 or ...Bf5 suits this setup.
- If White plays e5, hit the pawn chain with ...f6 or ...c5–c4.
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King’s Indian Attack at each rating
How often the position after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 4,7880.2% | 2...Nc633% | |
| 1200–1599 | 10k0.2% | 2...Nc631% | |
| 1600–1999 | 15k0.2% | 2...Nc621% | |
| 2000+ | 14k0.7% | 2...Nf633% | |
| All | 43k0.2% | 2...Nf623% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Black builds a solid center with ...c6, ...Bg4, ...Nbd7 and ...e5; White plays e4 and later h3.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.O-O Bg4 5.d3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 e5 7.e4Black grabs space; White plays e4, Nbd2 and Nc4 or c3, as in a King’s Indian with colors reversed.
1,294 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 5% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.O-O e5 5.d3The classic King’s Indian Attack: White plays Re1 and e5, then attacks with Nf1, h4 and Bf4.
190 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 53%, 6% were drawn, Black won 41%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 c5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O O-OWhite avoids open Sicilian theory and builds the same setup.
724 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 6% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 Nc6 4.g3At 2000+ about a third of players switch to d4 here, because ...e5 would otherwise give Black a big center.
10k games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 54%, 5% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nc6 3.d4
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At club level
White scores about 54% after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3, and about 55% at 2000+, better than most first-move setups. Below 1200 the most common reply is 2...Nc6, at 2000+ 2...Nf6. Against the French (1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2) White also scores about 55%.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.