King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Lesser Simagin (Spassky)

A chess opening that leads to a complex middlegame with chances for both sides, often used by former World Champion Boris Spassky.

In this opening, both players aim to control the center and develop their pieces harmoniously. White opts for a fianchetto setup, placing the dark-squared bishop on g2, while Black adopts the King's Indian Defense structure with a pawn on d6 and a fianchettoed dark-squared bishop on g7.

Black's knight on c6 and bishop on f5 create pressure on the d4 pawn and the e4 square, respectively. White's pawn structure is solid, but Black has counterplay on the queenside and in the center. The position can become sharp and double-edged, with both sides having chances for an advantage.

This variation is named after Russian Grandmaster Vladimir Simagin and former World Champion Boris Spassky, who employed this opening with success in their games. It is a flexible and aggressive choice for Black, often leading to a complex middlegame where both players need to be well-prepared and alert to tactical opportunities.