The King's Indian Attack Chess Opening: Tactics and Strategy
What you'll learn
- Ability to see why renowned chess coach Mark Dvoretsky regarded the King's Indian attack as a perfect weapon to which to base an opening repertoire
- Ability to see the power of a thematic "system" that can be used against a wide range of defences
- Ability to play an opening system which has very low memorising requirements and more emphasis on understanding ideas
- Ability to follow in the footsteps of Bobby Fischer who had many beautiful wins with the King's Indian Attack
- Ability with 1. e4 to have something against the whole of the French defence which can be a really annoying solid opening to play against :)
- Ability with 1. e4 to have something against early e6 in Sicilian defence avoiding theory of the Taimanov, Kan (Paulsen), 4 knights, and Pin variations
- Ability with 1. e4 to have a pet weapon vs the Caro-Kann defence
- Ability with 1. Nf3 having own pet territory and plans against anything black does
- Ability to impose a "Keep it simple" philosophy when playing against 3 major replies to 1.e4 - the Sicilian Defence, French defence and Caro-Kann
- Ability to be more assured and self-confident chess opening with stronger justification because of avoiding opponent's opening theory like Gruenfeld or French
- Ability to become a grandmaster without much opening theory and potentially retire to the Bahamas like David Norwood :)
- Ability to become a fully qualified doctor on the side of becoming a chess grandmaster like Bassem Amin :)
- Ability not to be checkmated with the idea of having to memorise tonnes of opening theory - the King's Indian attack requires minimal memorisation
- Ability to see why Leonid Stein who Fischer described as "When champions meet" in his 60 memorable games book chose actually 2.d3 as primary choice vs Caro-kann
- Ability to have an opening system where even games over 20 years ago are still relevant and can cherry pick inspirational and instructive examples
- Ability to translate quite a few King's Indian defence ideas (or leverage Kingscrusher's ideas ) into positions with extra tempo with White
- Ability to spend more time on tactics and endings as opposed to having to memorise tonnes of opening theory because this system is often about ideas and themes
- Ability to make use of themes which can be played against a variety of defences, and therefore providing less need to memorise specific moves
- Ability to have an opening system that fights for central control, active development, early castling and aggressive pawn structure often having e5 pawn wedge
- Ability to have a opening system which will not distract you too much from building up your "value chain" of dependencies - Strategy, Tactics, Endgame, etc
- Ability to use an opening that the current World chess champion Magnus Carlsen also uses sometimes with the White pieces against Super Grandmasters
- Ability to avoid getting into serious theoretical trouble and technical debates in the opening phase by playing a reliable solid system instead
- Ability to have something against 1...e5 which is King's Indian like and used by GM Glek with good success
- Ability in the view of GM Raymond Keene to have an opening which is safe, yet aggressive and does not require a superb memory and months of intensive learning
Requirements
- Basic knowledge of the rules of chess and how the pieces move
Description
Welcome to a deep dive into the King's Indian Attack Chess Opening with FIDE CM Kingscrusher. This course seeks to demystify this popular system, beloved by club players and World Champions for its ease of use, minimal requirement for theory memorisation, and potential to produce dynamic, attacking games.
In this course, we unpack the inherent 'independence' of the King's Indian Attack. You'll learn how to adjust your game and strategize against different move orders, with a specific focus on restricting the opponent's c8 bishop within their pawn chain.
A highlight of the course is an exploration of the games of illustrious World Champions like Bobby Fischer, who applied the King's Indian Attack with spectacular results. Modern Grandmasters such as Bassem Amin, Tomasz Markowski, and Sergei Movsesian, as well as popular streamer Hikaru Nakamura, also utilize this system to bypass intricate opening preparations, simplifying the early phase of the game.
Notably, the King's Indian Attack acts as a mirror image of the King's Indian Defense, but with an added tempo and a more flexible pawn centre. This course also emphasizes how the King's Indian Attack complements openings like the Reti, Catalan, English Opening, and Nimzo-Larsen Attack.
The Barcza System, a variation named after Gideon Barcza, will be introduced, showcasing the potential for greater 'independence' when applying the King's Indian Attack against black's pawn structure.
The King's Indian Attack can add depth to your chess repertoire, providing a pathway to aggressive and enjoyable games. Join this course to refine your chess strategies and boost your understanding of the King's Indian Attack.
Who this course is for:
- Beginner to intermediate chess players who don't want to have to memorise lots of opening theory but still have fun positions to play from in the opening with some attacking prospects
- Players who want to have a reliable opening system they can use largely independent of what the opponent does
- Players who enjoy attacking chess and attacking pawn formations such as an e5 wedge pawn chain
- Players who want the reassurance of an opening system with pedigree that former world chess champions such as Bobby Fischer, Tigran Petrosian and Mikhail Botvinnik have used as well as the current World chess champion Magnus Carlsen
- Players who want time to improve their other skills and areas within chess such as being strong at the middlegame and endgame and want to only give a certain percentage of time to studying opening theory at least until other aspects of their game improve
- Players who want to have a life outside of chess study but still be very competitive when they play either online or Over the board without too much worry of going into the opponent's detailed opening preparations and territories
Instructor
- 4.6 Instructor Rating
- 3,671 Reviews
- 19,279 Students
- 42 Courses
Dive deep into the intellectual universe of chess with Tryfon Gavriel, famously known to enthusiasts as "Kingscrusher." Beyond my titles as a FIDE Candidate Master and British Regional Chess Master, I am a dedicated chess educator, committed to spreading knowledge and passion for the game.
Decades of Strategic Pursuits My engagement with chess is a 35-year-long odyssey marked by competitive achievements both online and offline, including a peak ICC blitz rating of 2625 and an exceptional ECF grading of 212. My early triumph in the Lloyds Under 18 national UK tournament back in 1989 set the stage for a life steeped in chess, culminating in numerous top finishes in Lichess marathons and more. A statistical blog on lichess indicates :
"CM @Kingscrusher-YouTube has been an icon on Lichess for over a decade, as a chess streamer and as a very active player on Lichess. He is currently in 2nd place in overall trophies in all arenas (behind the unstoppable @Hoegi), he has many top 10 places in various rankings, and he has been racking up marathon trophies on his profile as well." - blog titled: "lichess-arena-rankings" (2024)
Udemy's Chess Luminary While I once enjoyed sharing insights and high-level analysis on my YouTube channel, my current passion lies in crafting comprehensive chess courses for Udemy. My dedication has been recognized with the "highest-rated" award for my detailed course on José Raúl Capablanca's strategies and the "Best Seller" accolade for my "Complete Guide to Chess Tactics," which garnered widespread acclaim shortly after its debut.
Teaching that Transforms Teaching chess goes beyond explaining moves on a board. For me, it's about igniting a passion for the sport and developing a deep, enduring understanding of strategic thinking and tactical decision-making. And it is about giving students the necessary chess abilities and skills that they can make use of in every single game they play. Courses such as the best selling "The complete guide to Chess Tactics" and "The complete guide to chess visualisation". There are also some courses based on champions. Drawing inspiration from chess titans like Paul Morphy, Alexander Alekhine, Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer, and Garry Kasparov, my courses offer more than knowledge—they provide a window into the minds of chess's greatest masters.
Your Journey Towards Chess Mastery My offerings on Udemy are designed for learners at all stages of their chess journey. Whether you're just starting or seeking advanced strategies, my courses are a gateway to deeper comprehension and appreciation of chess. Through meticulously designed lessons, I aim to equip you with the skills, confidence, and strategic acumen to elevate your game.
Join me in this exploration of chess, delving into the intricacies that make it a timeless classic. With each lesson, we'll unravel the complexities and joys of chess, fostering not just better players, but lifelong enthusiasts.