Accelerated Averbakh Variation

The Accelerated Averbakh Variation of the King's Indian Defense arises when White answers 4...d6 with an immediate 5. Bg5, instead of reaching the Averbakh proper by 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5. The bishop pins the f6-knight and, as in the slower move order, makes an early ...e5 harder for Black to arrange. Because neither the f1-bishop nor the g1-knight has moved, White keeps several development schemes in reserve. The line should not be confused with the Zinnowitz Variation, where the bishop reaches g5 only after 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bg5.

Black's most common reply is 5...O-O, which completes the usual kingside setup and leaves the bishop on g5 alone for the moment. 5...h6 questions the bishop at once and forces White to decide on its post. 5...Nbd7 is a more flexible development that keeps ...e5 in view. Engines rate the position as close to balanced and favor these same three moves. Results in online play are nearly even, and the variation is a moderately common sideline rather than one of the central battlegrounds of King's Indian theory.