King's Indian Defense: Deflect and Declare!

O’Kelly-Najdorf, Dubrovnik 1950:



Black to play.

Black is under fire on c7! How should he respond?
He could take on b5, but that may allow White to
use the resultant half open c-file to trouble
further c7. Obviously, such harassment would first
require kicking back the c5 knight through a timely
b2-b4.



Black to play.

Alternatively, he could take on d5. This option is
attractive because after exd5, the g2 bishop is
solidly hindered (cxd5 hangs b5 and Rxd5 forsakes e4
(… Bc6)). He could then take on b5 and make plans to
own enviable c5. The procedure would involve disabling
Bxc5 and b2-b4 through … a3!

Silicon Suspire!?:



18 ... Nxd5 19 exd5 Bxb5 20 cxb5 a3
21 Bd4 Bxd4 22 Rxd4 axb2 23 Qxb2 b6
24 Rd2 Qf5 25 Re2 Nd3 26 Rxe8+ Rxe8
27 Qc2 Qe5 28 Rd1 Nc5.
18 ... Nxd5 19 exd5 Bf5 20 Qd2 Rxe3
21 fxe3 Be5 22 e4 Nxe4 23 Bxe4 Bxe4
24 Re1 Bf5 25 Rxe5.
18 ... Bxb5 19 cxb5 a3 20 Bd4 Nxd5
21 Bxg7 Kxg7 22 Rxd5 axb2 23 Qxb2+ f6
24 Qc2 Re6 25 b6 h4.



18 ... a3 19 Ndxc7 axb2 20 Rab1 Bxb5
21 Nxb5 Ncxe4 22 Bd4 Re6 23 Qxb2 Nc5
24 a3 Ra4.
18 ... Na6 19 Ndxc7 Nxc7 20 Nxd6 Qb8
21 Nxe8 Qxe8 22 Bf4 Ne6 23 Bd6 Bc6
24 c5 Rc8 25 f4.
18 ... Ne6 19 Ndxc7 Nxc7 20 Nxd6 Qb8
21 Nxe8 Qxe8 22 Bf4 Ne6 23 Bd6 Bc6
24 c5 Rc8 25 f4.



18 ... h4 19 Ndxc7 Bxb5 20 Nxa8 Ncxe4
21 Nb6 Qc7 22 Qd3 Bc6 23 Re1 hxg3+.
18 ... Ra5 19 Nbxc7 Nxd5 20 Nxd5 Bc6
21 Rac1 Ra6 22 Bf4 Bxd5 23 Rxd5 Qe6 24 Rcd1 h4.
18 ... Re6.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE KING'S INDIAN DEFENSE

King's Indian Defense: White Square Weakness?

King's Indian Defense (Classical Variation): Brawny Bishop

King's Indian Defense (Classical Variation): Sounds of Sound

King's Indian Defense (Benko System): Logical Lunge

King's Indian Defense (Yugoslav/Panno Variation): Pretty Passed Pawn

CHESS OPENINGS ON-DEMAND

King's Indian Defense Electronic Book (E-Book) Part I

King's Indian Defense Electronic Book (E-Book) Part II