King's Indian Defence - Fianchetto Variation

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going"

King's Indian Defence is one of very dynamic opening. It used to be a lethal weapon of players such as Fischer, Geller, Kasparov, Gligorić and many others.

Nowadays Viktor Bologan is one of protagonists who wrote an excellent book on King's Indian Defence which was recently published.

In this opening Black gives up the centre for a while, White gains certain space in the centre and queen-side and then Black launches an attack on the king-side. In certain lines it is just a race and question is who will be faster.

Fianchetto variation is typically not that wild. The fact that White creates certain "fortress" for his King should make the Black's attack on king-side rather difficult.

In the following game both players, Ivanchuk and Yusupov, decided not to respect the above mentioned cliché and prepared for the audience jolly good show. Let's have a look at that: 

It was probably one of the best King's Indian Defences ever played.

Let`s go back to the critical position after Black`s 24^th move when White played 25.Nde7+.

British international master Andrew Martin, who analysed this game on ChessPublishing.com writes: "The depth of Yusupov's concept is revealed after 25.Nce7+. The Black goes 25...Kh8 26.Nxf5 Qh2+ 27.Kf1 Black brilliantly opens the g-file whilst preventing Bxf4. The amazing variation continues: 27...Be5!! 28.Bxe5+ Rxe5 29.dxe5 Rg8 30.Ndxe3 fxe3 31.Nxe3 Qf4+! 32.Bf3 Nxe3+ 33.Ke1 Rg1+ 34.Kf2 Ng4+ 35.Kxg1 Qh2+ 36.Kf1 Qf2# "Behind the scenes this game is interesting enough. What happens up front almost defies description." Yes, this line is really beautiful. However, has White or has not any other resources? Was Black position really so good and the attack so powerful?

First, instead of 28.Bxe5+ White can play 28.dxe5! and after Re6 29.Nde7 f3 30.exf3 e2+ 31.Kxe2 Qxg2+ 32.Kd3 Qxf3+ 33.Kc2 Qf4 34.Rd4 Qf2+ 35.Rd2 Qf4 36.Rg1 h5 37.Qd3 and White is two pieces up and Black attack is fading.

28...Rg8 is not better either because of 29.Ndxe3 Nxe3+ 30.Nxe3 fxe3 31.Qb7! Qh4 32.Qf3 Rxg2 33.Qxg2 Rg8 34.Be7!! Qxe7 35.Qh2 Rg6 36.Rd6 and again the Black's attack is fading and White is just all Rook up.

It is quite clear that there is no chance to find out al these lines in practical game over the board. And this the beauty of King's Indian Defence.