King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Exchange Variation

Before the first move

The Four Pawns Attack is White's most aggressive attempt to crush the King's Indian Defense. By establishing a massive pawn center, White aims to suffocate your position, but you will fight back by striking at the heart of their overextended wall.

1. d4White

White starts with d4, a solid foundation for central control. While e4 is the most common alternative leading to open games, this move often leads to more strategic, closed battles.

1... Nf6Black · your move

Develop your knight to f6. This flexible move prevents White from immediately playing e4 and keeps your options open for several different defensive setups against the d-pawn.

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

2. c4White

White plays c4, the standard follow-up to d4. This establishes the Queen's Gambit structure. Alternatives like the London System with Bf4 or the Trompowsky with Bg5 are also very common here.

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 · your move

Push your pawn to g6. You are preparing to fianchetto your bishop to g7, where it will exert long-range pressure along the great diagonal toward White's center.

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

3. Nc3White

White develops the knight to c3, reinforcing the center. White could also choose g3 for a Fianchetto System or the Saemisch Variation with f3, but this is the most direct path.

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)

3... Bg7Black · your move

Fianchetto your bishop to g7. This piece is the soul of your defense, providing safety for your king and eyeing the d4 and c3 squares from afar.

Other paths here: d5 (Grünfeld Defense) · c5 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 c5) · c6 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 c6) · d6 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 d6)

4. e4White

White seizes the full center with e4. This is the critical moment where the game branches into the Classical, Sämisch, or Averbakh variations depending on White's next few choices.

Other paths here: Bf4 (King's Indian: 4.Bf4) · Bg5 (King's Indian: 4.Bg5) · g3 (King's Indian: 4.g3) · Nf3 (King's Indian: 4.Nf3)

4... d6Black · your move

Move your pawn to d6. This essential move stops White from pushing e5 and prepares your own central counter-strikes, while also opening a path for your light-squared bishop.

Other paths here: O-O (King's Indian: 4.e4 O-O)

5. f4White

White chooses the aggressive f4, the Four Pawns Attack. It is much more confrontational than the solid Makogonov with h3 or the flexible Kramer Variation using Nge2.

Other paths here: Bg5 (King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation) · Nge2 (King's Indian Defense: Kramer Variation) · Bd3 (King's Indian: 4.e4 d6 5.Bd3) · h3 (King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation)

5... O-OBlack · your move

Castle your king to safety. Before starting your counter-attack in the center, it is vital to tuck your king away and bring your rook into play.

Other paths here: Na6 (King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Modern Defense) · c5 (King's Indian: Four Pawns Attack, 5...c5)

6. Nf3White

White plays Nf3, reinforcing the center. While Be2 is a common alternative, developing the knight first is the most natural way to prepare for the coming central skirmish.

Other paths here: Be2 (King's Indian: Four Pawns Attack, 6.Be2)

6... c5Black · your move

Push your pawn to c5. You are challenging the d4 pawn directly, trying to blow open the center and prove that White's pawn wall is overextended and vulnerable.

Other paths here: Bg4 (King's Indian: Four Pawns Attack, 6.Nf3 Bg4) · Na6 (King's Indian: Four Pawns Attack, 6.Nf3 Na6)

7. Be2White

White plays Be2, choosing a solid setup. The main alternative is the aggressive d5, which closes the center and leads to a very different, more locked-down strategic battle.

Other paths here: d5 (King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Dynamic Attack) · dxc5 (King's Indian: Four Pawns Attack, 6.Nf3 c5 7.dxc5)

7... cxd4Black · your move

Capture the pawn on d4. By trading your c-pawn, you open the c-file for your pieces and force White's knight to move to a more exposed square.

8. Nxd4White

White takes back with the knight. This is the standard response, as recapturing with the queen would leave her vulnerable to being harassed by Black's minor pieces.

8... Nc6Black · your move

Develop your knight to c6. You are immediately attacking the centralized knight on d4 and preparing to put more pressure on White's e4 pawn.

9. Be3White

White plays Be3, reinforcing d4. This is a very solid developing move. Now the opening phase is ending, and both sides must prepare for the complex middlegame ahead.

Where you stand

The position is dynamically balanced. White maintains a space advantage and a strong central presence, while Black has excellent piece activity and a clear target in the e4-pawn. Future play will revolve around White trying to use their space to launch a kingside attack, while Black uses the open c-file and the long diagonal to create counterplay.

• c6-e5 Strike at the e4 pawn
• f1-g1 Castle to secure the king
• f6-g4 Harass the bishop on e3
• d1-d2 Connect the rooks on the back rank