1.d4 — the closed and Indian games
King's Indian, Fianchetto Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-OECO E60–E69
White meets the King's Indian by fianchettoing too, blunting Black's dark-squared bishop and taking the sting out of the usual kingside pawn storm. A calmer, more positional approach than the Classical or Sämisch — White plays for a small, durable edge rather than a mutual attack.
Key ideas
- The g3/Bg2 setup neutralises Black's g7-bishop on the long diagonal and controls e4/d5.
- Black seeks counterplay with …Nbd7, …e5 or the Yugoslav …c5, rather than an all-out …f5 storm.
- It leads to rich, manoeuvring positions where White's solid structure is the point.
Who it suits
1.d4 players who want a positional, low-risk way to face the King's Indian.
Add it to your repertoire.
Drill the King's Indian, Fianchetto Variation move by move against the board until it's second nature.
Open the trainer