King's Indian Attack: Smyslov & Universal Setups (A05)

ECO A05 · Vol.23 · Ch.3 · 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b4

EPD: rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/8/1P6/5NP1/P1PPPP1P/RNBQKB1R b KQkq b3 · Eval +0.20

Immortalized by Bobby Fischer as a universal kingside attacking shell and enriched here by World Champion Vasily Smyslov's inventive flank thrust (A05: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b4), the King's Indian Attack turns hypermodern flexibility into an art form. With 3. b4!, White clamps down on c5 immediately, pairs Bb2 with Bg2, and retains the classic KIA option of rolling d3, Nbd2, and e4.

Vasily Smyslov's 3. b4! seizes queenside space and stops Black's easy ...c5 cold—fianchetto Bb2 and Bg2 smoothly before coiling d3 and e4!

Historical Origins & Pawn-Structure DNA

1924 New York International Tournament (Richard Réti vs Capablanca) · Double Fianchetto Flank Control (Réti) & e4–d3–g3 Kingside Wedge (KIA) · Richard Réti, Tigran Petrosian, Bobby Fischer, Vladimir Kramnik, Levon Aronian

At New York 1924, Richard Réti famously defeated José Raúl Capablanca—ending the Cuban World Champion's eight-year undefeated streak—using 1. Nf3 and double-fianchetto flank pressure, heralding a new era in chess thought.

In the Réti, raking bishops on g2 and b2 x-ray Black's center while c4 and b3/e3 nibble at d5; in the King's Indian Attack (a favorite of young Bobby Fischer against French and Sicilian setups), White locks e5 and launches a devastating h4–Nf1–Nh2–Ng4 kingside wave.

White's Strategic Blueprint

Smyslov Double Fianchetto: play Bb2, Bg2, O-O, d3, and Nbd2 (or c4), using the extra b4-space to squeeze Black's queenside while eyeing f6 and g7.
Classic Fischer KIA Switch: whenever Black commits ...d5 and ...c6 (in sibling KIA move orders), build Bg2, O-O, d3, Nbd2, e4–e5!, Re1, Nf1–e3–g4, and h4!
Meet ...Bg7 and ...O-O + ...d6 + ...e5 by challenging e5 directly from b2 and striking the queenside via a4 and b5.

Black's Counterplay & Breaks

Challenge the b4-pawn cleanly with 3...Bg7 4. Bb2 O-O 5. Bg2 a5! (or 4...c6 followed by ...a5!), forcing White to clarify b5 or a3.
Build a solid central stake via ...d6 and ...e5! (blunting Bb2 after ...Nbd7 or ...c6) before contesting the a-file.
Against standard d3 + e4 KIA setups without b4, adopt Botvinnik's ...d5, ...c5, ...Nc6, and ...Bg4/Bf5 setup to win the queenside race.

Common Club Traps & Mistakes

Ignoring 3. b4 and trying to play ...c5?! carelessly drops a clean pawn to bxc5 with White's b2-bishop raking the long diagonal!
As White, pushing b4–b5 prematurely against ...a5 without c4/d3 support hands Black a dream c5-outpost for their knights!

Canonical ECO Sub-Variations

A05 King's Indian Attack: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 (rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3p4/8/5NP1/PPPPPP1P/RNBQKB1R w KQkq d6)
A07 King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation: 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 (rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/8/2pp4/8/5NP1/PPPPPP1P/RNBQKB1R w KQkq c6)
A08 King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation: 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 (rnbqkbnr/pp2pppp/8/2pp4/8/5NP1/PPPPPPBP/RNBQK2R b KQkq -)
A07 King's Indian Attack, with Bf5: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bf5 (rn1qkb1r/pp2pppp/2p2n2/3p1b2/8/5NP1/PPPPPPBP/RNBQ1RK1 w kq -)
A08 King's Indian Attack: French Variation: 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 (r1bqkbnr/pp2pppp/2n5/2pp4/8/5NP1/PPPPPPBP/RNBQK2R w KQkq -)
A05 King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 (rnbqkb1r/pppppp1p/5np1/8/8/5NP1/PPPPPP1P/RNBQKB1R w KQkq -)

FAQ

Why did World Champion Vasily Smyslov invent 3. b4! against symmetrical 2...g6?

Against quiet 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d3, Black equalizes comfortably with ...c5 and ...Nc6; 3. b4! stops ...c5 in its tracks and seizes immediate queenside initiative!

How does this connect to Bobby Fischer's famous King's Indian Attack kingside storms?

Both grow out of 1. Nf3 + 2. g3: against French/Sicilian setups (...e6 + ...d5 or ...c5) White rolls d3 + Nbd2 + e4–e5 for a mating attack, whereas against 2...g6 Smyslov's 3. b4 avoids sterile symmetry.

How should Black react directly to White's advanced b4-pawn?

After ...Bg7 and ...O-O, striking the flank with ...a5! (or ...c6 + ...a5) forces White either to play a3 (softening the queenside) or push b5 (surrendering the c5-outpost).

Grandmasters Who Weaponized This Technique

Gukesh Dommaraju (IND · 2794 · Champ at 18) — 18th World Champion · Youngest Undisputed World Champion in History
Hikaru Nakamura (USA · 2816 FIDE · #2) — 5× U.S. Champion · 2816 Peak & Modern Chaos / Defense Wizard

A09 · Réti Opening: Advance Variation (2...d4 · A09) · A14 · Réti Anglo–Slav: Double Fianchetto System (A14) · A08 · Zukertort Opening: Reversed Grünfeld (4. d4 · A08) · Queen Endgames: Checks & X-Ray Skewers