King's Indian: 3.Bg5

Before the first move

The King's Indian Defense with 3.Bg5 is an aggressive way to meet Black's kingside fianchetto. By developing the bishop early, White puts immediate pressure on the knight on f6 and prepares to fight for the center with a non-standard setup. Black aims for counterplay while White seeks to disrupt the typical King's Indian structures.

1. d4White · your move

Push your pawn to d4. This move claims central space, controls the e5-square, and opens lines for your queen and dark-squared bishop. It is the foundation for many solid and ambitious opening systems.

1... Nf6Black

Black replies Nf6, the most popular and flexible response to d4. While alternatives like the Englund Gambit with e5 or the Horwitz Defense with e6 exist, the knight move is the most principled way to contest the center and prepare for kingside development.

Other paths here: Na6 (Australian Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense: Borg Gambit) · b6 (English Defense) · e5 (Englund Gambit)

2. c4White · your move

Push your pawn to c4. This is the standard follow-up to d4, gaining more space and preparing to develop your knight behind the pawn. It puts pressure on the d5-square and prepares for a massive central presence.

Other paths here: f4 (Canard Opening) · g4 (Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit) · e4 (Indian Defense: Omega Gambit) · d5 (Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation)

2... g6Black

Black plays g6, signaling an intention to enter King's Indian territory. Other popular choices here include e6, leading to the Queen's Indian, or the Mexican Defense with Nc6. By choosing g6, you are inviting White to occupy the center while you prepare a flank attack.

Other paths here: g5 (Indian Defense: Medusa Gambit) · b5 (Indian Defense: Pyrenees Gambit) · a6 (Indian: 2.c4 a6) · Nc6 (Mexican Defense)

3. Bg5White · your move

Slide your bishop to g5. This move creates an immediate pin on the f6-knight and avoids the main-line King's Indian theory. You are forcing Black to deal with the pressure on their kingside before they can finish their development.

Other paths here: d5 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Advance Variation) · f3 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine Variation) · h4 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Basman-Williams Attack) · g3 (King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Immediate Fianchetto)

Where you stand

The position is strategically rich. White has developed the dark-squared bishop early to annoy Black's knight, while Black will continue with Bg7 and O-O. White often follows up with e3 or Nc3, while Black looks to strike at the center with d6 and eventually e5 or c5. Both sides must be careful about the timing of their central pawn breaks.

• g5-f4 Retreat the bishop if challenged by h6
• b1-c3 Develop the knight to control d5
• f8-g7 Fianchetto the bishop to the long diagonal
• e8-g8 Castle kingside to secure the king
• c7-c5 Strike the center with the c-pawn