Chessy
King's Indian Attack: Bg4 — A Solid, Flexible Setup for White
You've played 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3, and now Black pins your knight with 2...Bg4. The King's Indian Attack is a favourite among club players who want a sound, low-theory system, but this early pin can feel annoying to face. Don't worry — the stats say you're doing fine. From 393,989 games at this position, White scores 51.5% with a +0.22 evaluation, which is basically a fair fight. The drill below will show you how to handle Black's most popular tries and steer the game toward comfortable KIA territory.
Play the King's Indian Attack: Bg4 against the engine
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Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
The King's Indian Attack is a system where White keeps the centre flexible, delays committing the d-pawn, and aims for a kingside attack later. When Black plays Bg4, they are trying to pin your knight against your queen — a common nuisance move. Your job isn't to refute it; it's to neutralise it and reach the typical KIA setup you know and love. The engine calls this +0.22, a tiny plus for White, meaning you are very slightly better. In practice this is dead level, and your better scoring (51.5% wins against 44.2% for Black) suggests club players handle the White side more comfortably than Black does. Trust the system.
The Engine's Recommendation
Stockfish's top choice for Black here is 3...c6, preparing ...d4 or ...e6 with a solid pawn chain. This is actually less common (only 17,916 games) than some other moves — but it's the one the computer thinks is best. After 3...c6, a typical continuation is c4 e6 O-O, and White develops naturally. Don't be afraid if Black chooses this quieter path. You simply castle, prepare d3 or d4 yourself, and outplay them in the middlegame.
What the Statistics Tell Us
The most-played reply by far is 3...Bxf3 (112,331 games), where Black trades their bishop for your knight immediately. White scores 52.9% here — your best result against any major line. After Bxf3, just recapture with Bxf3, and you've got the bishop pair and a slightly better structure. The second most popular move is 3...e6 (73,956 games, White scores 51.3%), followed by 3...Nf6 (70,992 games, White scores 51.0%). All three of these give you an above-50% score, which is a great sign for your practical chances. The only popular move where White scores below 50% is 3...Nc6 (49.0%), so if Black develops that knight, be ready to play accurately — but even then, the evaluation stays level.
The One Mistake to Know
There is one trap you should keep in mind. 3...Qd7 looks weird but sees some play (12,905 games). The FACTS identify it as a mistake — it loses roughly 1.8 pawns of advantage compared to the better move 3...c6. If Black plays Qd7, the queen gets in the way, hampers development, and leaves the bishop on g4 oddly placed. White scores exactly 50.0% against it, but the engine says you should be much better. A good rule: when Black plays unnatural-looking moves early, trust your development and punish them with active play in the centre.
Results across 393,989 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bxf3 | 112,331 | 52.9% |
| e6 | 73,956 | 51.3% |
| Nf6 | 70,992 | 51.0% |
| Nc6 | 66,454 | 49.0% |
| c6 | 17,916 | 50.8% |
| Qd7 | 12,905 | 50.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the King's Indian Attack good for beginners to play?
Yes — the King's Indian Attack is an excellent system for club and beginner players because you don't need to memorise long opening lines. You follow a simple development pattern: fianchetto your kingside bishop, castle, and decide where to place the d-pawn later. The stats back it up: at this exact position White scores 51.5% across nearly 400,000 games on Lichess.
How should I respond if Black trades bishop for knight with Bxf3?
Just recapture with your bishop: Bxf3. You get the bishop pair and a solid position. This is Black's most common move (112,331 games), and White scores 52.9% — your best result. Don't hesitate to take the trade; you're coming out slightly ahead.
What is Black's best move against the KIA with Bg4?
According to the engine (depth 16), Black's best move is 3...c6. It's not the most popular choice among club players (only 17,916 games), but it's the one the computer prefers. Black prepares ...d4 or ...e6 without allowing White any immediate targets.
Is Qd7 a mistake for Black in this position?
Yes, 3...Qd7 is classified as a mistake that loses about 1.8 pawns of advantage compared to the better move c6. It sees some play (12,905 games) but puts the queen on an awkward square. If you face it, just develop normally and build a centre — you will end up with a clear edge.