The King’s Indian Assault. Ever since I used to be a baby, I had blended emotions about it. The primary cause – as a result of there was by no means an assault.
In fact, I knew Fischer’s well-known video games the place he was destroying his opponents (in opposition to Myagmarsuren is probably the most well-known destruction), however once I would analyse a bit by myself I may by no means crash via Black’s kingside, particularly if he performed …h6 when White threatened to play h6 himself (for some cause they by no means performed this in opposition to Fischer, all the time permitting him to push h6 (or …h3 when he was enjoying Black, for instance on this sport in opposition to Nikolic) and fatally weaken Black’s kingside).
After I determined to play the Assault myself (this was in 1995), guess what they performed in opposition to me? …h6 in fact, leaving me fuming and cursing myself. However someway, I managed to push g4, threatening g5 and likewise I managed to play c4 and I gained the sport, however by no means dared to strive the Assault once more.
Then got here occasions when the Assault was performed in opposition to me. It’s often performed when Black had already dedicated the pawn to e6, in my case after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3. d3, however then I used to be joyful to make use of the harmonious growth with 3…Nc6 4.g3 g6, adopted by …Bg7,…Nge7 and …d6. It’s nonetheless the most effective techniques in opposition to it.
The Assault has not too long ago had an elevated significance as a result of a variety of gamers use 1.Nf3 as a option to enter the Reti or another opening, relying on Black’s alternative. And plenty of Black gamers depend on the QGD, so we regularly have one thing like 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.0-0 Be7 and now White performs 5.d3, not wanting to enter Catalan waters with 5.d4 or Reti with 5.c4 or 5.b3. So Black continues 5…0-0 6 Nbd2 and we’re on the verge of the King’s Indian Assault.
it from Black’s perspective I used to be attracted by Aronian’s alternative of 6…Nc6, with the concept of seven.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 e5! and there’s a transformation within the place which is kind of nice for Black. This can be a good concept for Black, particularly necessary is that it seems on the board early and it’s Black who dictates the modifications within the place! I advisable this concept as a dependable alternative in my LTR QGD.
One other good concept comes from the fertile thoughts of Vladimir Kramnik.
His concept (not truly his, it has been performed earlier than however it was largely forgotten) is deeper, however on the identical time, additionally it is common.
It goes like this: Black pushes the pawn to a3, scary b3 (Fischer didn’t permit this – he performed a3 himself when Black threatened to push …a3. However Kramnik’s concept works on this case as effectively – it’s only necessary to maintain the bishop on c8, to have the pawn on e6 protected). Then, when White reaches h5 along with his pawn, he performs …f5, stopping White’s kingside play in its tracks.
Right here’s the place after 13…f5! from his sport in opposition to Nepomniachtchi from the opening blitz in Zurich in 2017:
If White doesn’t take en passant then he has nothing on the kingside as Black’s pawn on f5 successfully kills off any hopes for an assault.
If he takes, he’s worse after 14.exf6 Bxf6 when Black has higher central management. Nepomniachtchi took and misplaced 12 strikes later.
It’s price noting that Kramnik’s concept may also be carried out with a knight on e8 as an alternative of d7, from the place the knight can go to c7 to bolster e6.
So, there you go. In case you wanted a dependable weapon in opposition to the misleadingly named King’s Indian Assault – now you might have two!
