King's Indian Defence: Averbakh Variation
Also known as Averbakh
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5
The Averbakh is White's anti-King's-Indian system where the bishop drops to e2 and then pins on g5 before Black can play the freeing ...e5. By controlling that break and keeping a broad pawn centre, White aims for a lasting space clamp.
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What it does
After the standard King's Indian moves, White plays 5.Be2 and 6.Bg5 instead of the usual 5.Nf3. The bishop on g5 makes the natural freeing break ...e5 awkward, since after 6...e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5 White hits c7 and e7 with comfort. This nudges Black towards other plans - ...c5, ...Na6, ...h6 followed by ...e5 with tempo, or ...c6 with ...Qa5. White keeps the e4/d4 centre and a space advantage while delaying Nf3 to keep the f-pawn flexible.
When to use it
Reach for the Averbakh when you face the King's Indian and want a strategic, space-based game rather than the razor-sharp Classical main lines after Nf3 and ...e5. It suits players who enjoy clamping down on the opponent's pawn breaks and squeezing slowly. Because the ideas are positional and the move order subtle, it rewards understanding over memorisation - an advanced but very practical weapon.
Why it works
The whole King's Indian depends on Black freeing the cramped position with ...e5 or ...c5. By developing the bishop to g5 early, White makes ...e5 awkward: the d-file opens, queens come off and Nd5 lands on a fine square hitting c7 and e7. Meanwhile White's centre stays intact and the bishop on e2 keeps f3 and h5 ideas in reserve. Black must spend time arranging the break, and that lost tempo is exactly the space edge White is after.
Key ideas
- Pin with Bg5 to make the ...e5 break costly for Black
- Keep the broad e4/d4 pawn centre and a space clamp
- Delay Nf3 so the f-pawn and Bg5 stay flexible
- After ...e5 dxe5 Black faces an awkward Nd5 hitting c7 and e7
- Meet ...c5 with d5, gaining a queenside space wedge
- Aim for f4 or queenside expansion once Black is cramped
Watch out
The key tactical point: after 6...e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5 Black struggles to hold c7 and e7 - 9...Nxd5 10.cxd5 leaves White with a pleasant clamp, and careless play can drop a pawn. Black usually avoids ...e5 here, preferring 6...c5, 6...Na6 or 6...h6 first to shoo the bishop before breaking.