Exercise 5.1Find the move
White to move
Black is ready to play ...♘h5. Keep your bishop.
5
The London System · Kapilash Chess Academy
King's Indian Setups
The calm way: h3, Be2 and castle
In this lesson you will learn
- How to set up against ...g6, ...♗g7 and ...d6
- Why h3 is useful: a retreat square for the bishop
- Meeting ...c5 and ...e5
- When to exchange on c5
Every board on this page is live. Move the pieces by tapping or dragging, click any move in the lines to see that position, and press ↺ to start again.
5.1 Against the King's Indian
Against ...g6, ...♗g7 and ...d6 the bishop on f4 stops ...e5 for a while. Black will try to push ...e5 anyway, or play ...c5 to attack d4.
Diagram 5.1Black to move
Example 5.1 · The calm setup
White has played h3 to keep the bishop on f4 safe from ...♘h5.
h3 gives the bishop a retreat to h2, so ...♘h5 no longer wins the bishop pair. Then White castles and chooses between c3 (solid) and c4 (more space). Against the King's Indian, the bishop on e2 is safer than on d3, where it can be hit by ...e5–e4.
LessonAgainst ...g6 setups, play h3 early. Your dark-squared bishop is your best piece; give it a safe home on h2.
5.2 When Black Plays ...c5
Diagram 5.2White to move
Example 5.2 · ...c5 and dxc5
Black strikes at the centre with ...c5.
Taking on c5 and exchanging queens leads to a quiet position where White's pieces are slightly more active. This is a good option against a stronger opponent who wants a complicated King's Indian: you take the fight out of the position on your terms.
Remember
- Against ...g6, play h3 to give your bishop a retreat square.
- The bishop is often better on e2 than on d3 against the King's Indian.
- Choose c3 for a solid game or c4 for more space.
Exercises · Lesson 5
Each exercise comes from a real London position. Find the best move, then play it on the board.
Exercise 5.2Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...♗h6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.3Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 9...♗h6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.4Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 10...e5. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.5Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♗h6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.6Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♗h6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.7Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 8...♗h6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.8Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 6...♗h6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.9Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♗h6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.10Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...f6. How does White punish it?
Exercise 5.11Find the move
White to move
Black has just played 7...♘e4. How does White punish it?