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ECO E60-E99BlackA line in the King's Indian Defense

Learn the Sämisch: Panno / ...Nc6 System line in the King's Indian Defense

The Panno approach against the Sämisch: Black develops ...Nc6 and plays ...a6 and ...Rb8 to prepare the ...b5 pawn break, generating queenside counterplay rather than fighting in the center.

The moves you’ll play

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4g6
  3. 3.Nc3Bg7
  4. 4.e4d6
  5. 5.f3O-O
  6. 6.Be3Nc6
  7. 7.Nge2a6
  8. 8.Qd2Rb8

The line continues — master it move by move in the app.

Your coach, move by move

  1. 1... Nf6We develop and stake our claim on the central squares.
  2. 2... g6We fianchetto the bishop to pressure the long diagonal and White's center.
  3. 3... Bg7We castle to safety, ready to commit to queenside play against the Sämisch structure.
  4. +3 more coached moves waiting in the app

Key ideas behind this line

  • In the locked Classical center after d4-d5, Black launches the Mar del Plata attack with ...Ne7, ...Nd7 or ...Ne8, then ...f5-f4 and ...g5-g4-g3, throwing every kingside pawn at White's king while conceding ground on the other wing.
  • White counters on the queenside: c4-c5, b4, Rc1 and a timely cxd6 to open files, aiming for breakthroughs with Nb5/Nc4 and rook infiltration before Black's mating attack arrives. The game is a pure flank race where tempo is everything.
  • The dark-squared fianchettoed bishop on g7 is Black's soul; Black keeps it strong, avoids unnecessary exchanges, and uses the ...e5/...f5 breaks to open its diagonal once the center cracks.

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More lines in this opening

Classical Main Line: Mar del Plata (9...Ne7)

The defining battle of the KID: White locks the center and plays on the queenside while Black launches an all-out kingside pawn storm with ...f5-f4-g5-g4. Ne1 reroutes the knight to d3 to challenge ...f4.

Classical: Bayonet Attack (9. b4)

White's most ambitious anti-Mar del Plata try, expanding instantly on the queenside. Black continues normally with ...Nh5 preparing ...f5 and ...Nf4, racing the kingside attack against White's flank pawns.

Classical: Petrosian System (7. d5)

White closes the center early with 7. d5 instead of allowing the Mar del Plata. Black plays ...a5 to freeze the queenside, then develops the knight to a6-c5 and prepares ...Nh7 with ...f5 ideas.

Classical: Gligoric System (7...Nc6 8. d5 then Be3)

White develops the bishop to e3, and Black hits it with ...Ng4 to provoke a concession. After Bg5 f6 Bh4, Black gains kingside space and develops with ...Nc6, hitting d4 with active piece play.

Fianchetto Variation: Classical (7...Nc6 8. d5 Na5)

Against the solid Fianchetto setup, Black develops the knight to c6 and after d5 swings it to a5, eyeing c4 and preparing ...c5 with queenside play, while keeping the ...f5 break in reserve.

Fianchetto: Yugoslav Variation (...c5)

The Yugoslav strikes at the center with ...c5 rather than ...e5, leading to Benoni-like structures. After d5, Black's knight goes to a5 to pressure c4 and prepare ...a6 and ...b5 on the queenside.

Sämisch Variation: Classical (...e5)

Against the rugged Sämisch with f3, Black challenges the center with ...e5 and supports it with ...c6, keeping the structure flexible. The plan involves ...Nbd7, ...a6 and queenside play or a central break.

Four Pawns Attack: Main Line (...c5)

The aggressive Four Pawns Attack grabs maximum space; Black counters classically with ...c5 and ...e6, undermining the broad center. After ...exd5 the structure becomes a sharp Benoni where Black's piece activity counts.

Averbakh Variation (5. Be2 and 6. Bg5)

The Averbakh pins with Bg5 to discourage ...e5. Black sidesteps into a Benoni structure with ...c5 and ...e6, breaking the pin's relevance and obtaining dynamic counterplay on the dark squares.

Makogonov / h3 System

White's flexible h3 prevents ...Ng4 and prepares a kingside setup. Black answers with ...e5, locks with ...a5, and routes the knight via a6 to c5, preparing ...Nh5 and ...f5 in classical KID fashion.

Classical: Exchange Variation (9. dxe5 / 8. dxe5)

White trades into a symmetrical-looking endgame, hoping for a tiny edge. Black equalizes comfortably: the knight on c6 is active, and accurate play with ...Nd4 or ...Re8 holds the balance with good piece activity.

Anti-KID: Smyslov / 4. Bg5 line

White develops the bishop to g5 with a restrained e3 setup. Black calmly completes development with ...Nbd7 and breaks with ...e5, reaching a flexible structure where the ...c6 and ...Qe7 plan equalizes.

Fianchetto: Panno Variation (...Nc6 and ...a6)

The Panno against the Fianchetto: Black develops ...Nc6 and plays ...a6 to prepare ...Rb8 and ...b5, generating concrete queenside counterplay. After d5 the knight goes to a5 to hit c4 and support ...c5/...b5.

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