The King's Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 5.g3 begins with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.g3 (ECO E72). Across rating levels it shows up in 108,677 recorded games — enough data to map exactly where it succeeds and where it stalls.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the King's Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 4.e4. Among the most prolific White practitioners are Larry Melvyn Evans (9 games), Peter Petran (8 games), Alexander Kotov (7 games). Black-side regulars include Svetozar Gligoric (7 games), Hector Rossetto (5 games), Juan Traian Iliesco (5 games).
Move Diversity and Theory Depth
Move choice is far from uniform in the King's Indian Defence: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4... 5.g3. At 1200 Elo, the top reply is O-O, played 69.9% of the time. There are 4 other moves seeing meaningful share, and 81.7% of games stick to established theory. Entropy: 1.78. By 2500, O-O dominates at 94% of replies; only 1 viable alternatives remain and 97.6% of moves are theory. Entropy drops to 0.47. That entropy collapse is the signature of a line where preparation pays off: at the top, players know the best move and play it.
Common Mistakes
- Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, theory adherence sits at 82.4% — versus 93.2% at 2000. The most popular deviation is Bg4 (played 9.3% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
- Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
- Letting White own the centre — Hypermodern openings concede central space on purpose, but only if you strike back in time. Delay the counter-blow and you end up squeezed.
Practice on Chessiverse
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