I used to play the KID. My recollection is that some part of my repertoire was refuted every month. I would search theory, published games and, if need be, use my own noggin. I would eventually find a fix.

Bent Larsen made a comment that he liked to play the KID against the Russians because he thought it might be unsound! I interpreted that as meaning that the KID gave him a back-against-the-wall mentality that he used to play his best chess - and it often worked.

Now that I'm retired, I'm thinking of going back to the KID myself. I see nothing has changed. It's as unsound (and viable?) as ever.

I'm afraid your analysis did not display or download for me. But I can attest that the Magokanov is a challenge. IM David Vigorito, Chess Publishing, has covered the line several times. In June 2019 he provided two games. Modern-Chess.com has two recent books devoted to it, from the white perspective. GM Bologan covers it some in his recent book on the KID.

I'm beginning to look at these lines with Stockfish 10. It seems to me that black hangs in there, though sometimes the analysis is long. SF10 seems to have something referred to as "analysis contempt," I kid you not. In very complex positions it gives different evaluations depending on whether or it is white or black to move. But around 10 moves in, it settles down to a more stable evaluation.

It often pays to look at a position with your own eyes. For example if you have a simplified position with equal material and generally equally placed pieces and pawns, SF10 may give white an advantage because he has a bishop vs a knight or has two connected pawns on one side vs two isolated pawns. Sure white is "better," but perhaps it's not likely to mean anything.

The fiancheto line has always been a headache. I think ...c6 ...d5 is perfectly viable and not nearly so boring as people may think. I'd rather find chances there, than in the Petroff. This line could be the complete answer IMO. The biggest problem is style. King's Indian players do not want to play a Gruenfeld/Slav. Nor do Gruenfeld players. Nor do Slav players. So, like Rodney Dangerfield, It don't get no respect.

Early ...c5 lines have lots of potential to get out of theory - or at least your opponents theory. ...d6, ...c6, ...Bf5 has some appeal to this KI player.

Also the Mar Del Plata is as challenging as ever. Nor should one ignore the Saemish or Averbach. The Petrosian line may transpose to the Magakonov.

The KID is not easy, but if you're not losing, you're probably winning!

halbstark wrote on 08/27/19 at 16:47:34:


Do you have any references for that?
I am a regular King's Indian player and I hear about these moves for the first time.