Kings Indian- Complex or Simple?
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Often against d4 as black, and against stronger players as white, because it is known to be “stable and good for beginners”, I play the kings indian defense however recently i’ve read in the forums that it isn’t so simple and you have to memorize complex theory. Is there anyone who has experience in the defense who can tell me if it is good for beginners rated around 700-800? And if it is too complex, what other openings should I play as black against d4 and against strong players as white?
Jan 30, 2022
0
#2
As a 2000 player over the board that plays the King's Indian Defense regularly as Black, it is absolutely NOT a simple opening at all! There is a TON of theory, and many different pawn structures. The Classical, Saemisch, Fianchetto, and Four Pawns, for example, are like Cheese Cake, Brussel Sprouts, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and T-Bone Steak. NOTHING alike!
You want something simple to understand? Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense.
King's Indian is an extremely complex opening at a high level. If black doesn't know theory they will be cramped. However, at lower levels, it might be a simpler opening. The opening moves are usually the same and it's hard to be destroyed in less than 10 moves, like it is against some gambits.
@ThrillerFan Yes, thank you for the advice, I will look into your opening suggestions, and I do get confused with lots-of-theory openings.
@aanval22 Yes, that is true, I watched a few videos and the main lines they discuss are hardly ever featured in my games. Ty for your opinion, but I am wondering, at what rating does the opening begin getting more complicated and more “theory-based?”
Jan 30, 2022
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#6
ChesswithNickolay wrote:
It is super complex, but because it wasn't really fun for me to play it, because I liked some other options, and because the KID had a lot of issues for me, I choose not to play it.
Responding to an OBJECTIVE question, like "is the King's Indian Complex?" with "I this ..." and "I that ..." is completely and utterly useless! Nobody cares what you think or what your personal issues are with the King's Indian Defense and WHY you don't play it. You don't see me spouting why I play it - he doesn't care about that. I just am pointing out that a 2000 King's Indian player is responding, which goes to show that my response is likely more legit than a reply by a non-King's Indian player, but WHY I play it? He could care less.
Learn to answer the question. Not give your own personal issues! Go take your problems to clubs that talk about problems, like Mothers of Murdered Offspring!
aanval22 wrote:
King's Indian is an extremely complex opening at a high level. If black doesn't know theory they will be cramped. However, at lower levels, it might be a simpler opening. The opening moves are usually the same and it's hard to be destroyed in less than 10 moves, like it is against some gambits.
Agreed... I honestly doubt that <1000 would get past 5 moves of theory and if they do somehow get to 7-8 book moves with a small advantage it is very unlikely that they won't blunder it a couple of moves later...
If you want to play it and/or study it go for it, just don't waste too much energy trying to memorize lines you won't likely see until you develop the rest of your chess skills... and make sure you're also learning opening principles, for beginners it is more important than any opening theory =]
Jan 30, 2022
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#8
I don't think it really matters if it's complex or simple. Even if it's complex and you're lower-rated, it's not like your opponent will know it any better than you do. Also, complex openings teach you the game better. Sure if an opening is simple, it'll be easier to play, and you might win (slightly) more games at the beginning On the other hand, if the opening leads to complicated positions, you'll force your brain to think harder, and in the long run it will be better for you.
xRose_UnicornGirlx a écrit :
@aanval22 Yes, that is true, I watched a few videos and the main lines they discuss are hardly ever featured in my games. Ty for your opinion, but I am wondering, at what rating does the opening begin getting more complicated and more “theory-based?”
I don't play the King's Indian, but maybe 1700? Not sure.
Jan 30, 2022
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#10
ChesswithNickolay wrote:
ThrillerFan wrote:
ChesswithNickolay wrote:
It is super complex, but because it wasn't really fun for me to play it, because I liked some other options, and because the KID had a lot of issues for me, I choose not to play it.
Responding to an OBJECTIVE question, like "is the King's Indian Complex?" with "I this ..." and "I that ..." is completely and utterly useless! Nobody cares what you think or what your personal issues are with the King's Indian Defense and WHY you don't play it. You don't see me spouting why I play it - he doesn't care about that. I just am pointing out that a 2000 King's Indian player is responding, which goes to show that my response is likely more legit than a reply by a non-King's Indian player, but WHY I play it? He could care less.
Learn to answer the question. Not give your own personal issues! Go take your problems to clubs that talk about problems, like Mothers of Murdered Offspring!
This is not a problem for me at all. I merely stated this to suggest that there are many more ways to play against d4.
Also, I did play the KID.
Now you are just spewing nonsense!
Post 6, posted by YOU states and I quote:
"It is super complex, but because it wasn't really fun for me to play it, because I liked some other options, and because the KID had a lot of issues for me, I choose not to play it."
Not a problem for YOU as all, huh?
I like to play the KID but only against certain white openings (like the London and King's Indian Attack), since I think other setups like the Queen's Indian or Semi Slav (maybe even QGD) are objectively stronger in relatively more "open" positions.
But, to answer your question, the KID is absolutely not a simple opening, because white has the option to play in a variety of ways against it, and black's position can get severely cramped if he or she isn't well prepared.
