King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses

A solid and flexible opening for Black, the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses aims to counter White's central pawn structure.

The opening is characterized by Black allowing White to establish a strong pawn center with pawns on d4 and e4, while focusing on developing their kingside pieces and fianchettoing their dark-squared bishop. This setup provides Black with a solid and flexible position, as well as opportunities for counterplay on the queenside or in the center.

In the Normal Variation, White typically develops their knights to f3 and c3, supporting their central pawns and preparing for potential pawn breaks with d5 or e5. Black's main plan is to play for the e5 pawn break, which can lead to a variety of pawn structures and middlegame plans.

Rare Defenses in this opening can include deviations from the main lines, such as early pawn advances on the queenside or unusual piece placements. These can lead to unique and unbalanced positions, often catching opponents off guard and providing opportunities for both sides to outplay their opponent.

This versatile and dynamic opening choice for Black is suitable for players who enjoy complex middlegames and are willing to take on some risk in order to create winning chances. It has been employed by many top-level players, including former World Champions Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov, as well as current elite grandmasters such as Hikaru Nakamura and Teimour Radjabov.