King's Indian Defense
Also called the KID.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
A defense for Black
Let White build a big centre, then blow it up.
The idea
Black gives White a large pawn centre on purpose, fianchettoes the bishop to g7, castles, and then counterattacks - often with a kingside pawn storm (...f5, ...g5, ...f4).
The plan
After ...d6 and ...e5, Black launches the kingside pawns at White's king while White attacks on the queenside. It's a thrilling race.
One tip for beginners
The KID rewards attacking players. If you love throwing your kingside pawns forward at the enemy king, this is your opening.
What to watch out for
Timing. If you push the kingside pawns before you're ready, you just weaken your own king. Develop and castle first.
Who plays it
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