King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation

The King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation is a solid and aggressive opening for black, aiming to counter white's central pawn structure and create counterplay on the kingside.

The opening is characterized by black allowing white to establish a strong pawn center with pawns on d4 and e4, while black develops their pieces to prepare for a counterattack. Black's pawn structure is typically set up with pawns on d6, g6, and a fianchettoed bishop on g7. The Orthodox Variation specifically involves white developing their knight to f3 and bishop to e2, providing additional support to the central pawns.

This opening is popular among players who prefer a dynamic and aggressive style, as it often leads to sharp positions with chances for both sides. Black's main plan is to break white's center with pawn moves like e5 or c5, while also launching a kingside attack with pawn advances like f5 and g5. White, on the other hand, will try to maintain their central pawn structure and exploit any weaknesses in black's position.

The King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation has been played by many top-level players, including former World Champions Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. It remains a popular choice at all levels of play due to its rich strategic and tactical possibilities.