King's Indian Defense

Black's fighting answer to 1.d4. Let White build a big centre, fianchetto the g7-bishop, and counterattack with the right break (...e5 or ...c5). As Black you take the slightly worse, sharper side. It's the cousin of the Sicilian Dragon — the same g7-bishop counterattack, just against 1.d4 instead of 1.e4. The Dragon is more open and sharper — its lines open at once — while the King's Indian stays closed, and you attack more slowly with a kingside pawn storm. Easy rule: play the King's Indian against 1.d4, the Dragon against 1.e4. This lesson shows the two roads after the centre locks — the calm queenside clamp and the famous kingside storm — plus the punishing replies when White overextends.