Theoria
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King's Indian Defense

Fianchetto Variation, Long Variation

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  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4g6
  3. 3.Nc3Bg7
  4. 4.Nf3d6
  5. 5.g3O-O
  6. 6.Bg2Nbd7
  7. 7.O-Oe5
  8. 8.e4Re8
  9. 9.h3exd4
  10. 10.Nxd4Nc5
  11. 11.Re1a5
217 games52%42%

A deep line of the Classical King's Indian Fianchetto in which Black gives up the center with ...exd4 and posts a knight on c5, backed by ...a5.

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About the Long Variation

The Long Variation is a deep branch of the Classical Fianchetto. After 8. e4 Re8 9. h3 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nc5 11. Re1 a5, Black has given up the center. The c5-knight hits e4, and ...a5 stops b4 from driving it away. Play revolves around the e4 and d6 pawns on the half-open files. The most common reply is 12. b3, while engines prefer 12. Ndb5, eyeing d6 and c7, and rate White slightly better. The line is rarely seen.

Popular continuations