Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...g6/3. Nc3

King's Indian defence E61 Indian defence → King's Indian Defence 3. Nc3 White develops a knight and prepares to play e4. Developing this knight first also keeps options open for being able to play multiple lines against the King's Indian. The main line is 3...Bg7. Completing the fianchetto, Black increases pressure on the centre with their pieces (in hypermodern style). Black allows White to continue building their centre (4. e4), while preparing their forces to attack it later. 3...d6 and 4...Bg7 may be played as a change in move order. 3...d5 is a sideline, the Grünfeld defence. In order for White to play e4, they must first deal with this pawn. The main line is the exchange variation, 4. cxd5, and 4...Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 leads to a typical hypermodern position where Black plans the pawn break ...c5. Theory table all King's Indian defence 3...Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 + 3. ... ... 4. ... ... 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 h6 Averbakh variation + 3. ... ... 4. ... ... 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Na6 Karpov system + Grünfeld defence 3...d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 + References King's Indian Defence