The King’s Indian Defense: Step by Step | Chess Lesson # 85

Hello students! It’s time to learn another great Chess opening: The King’s Indian Defense (KID). In this lesson, we will go over the basics including two plans we can use in the classical variation. I have used them both since the beginning of my Chess career and now I want to share them with you. Hope you like it!

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My Book Recommendations:
First tactics book:
Mixed tactics book:
Advanced tactics book:
Advanced tactics book (II):
Carlsen’s book (excellent):
Kramnik’s book (excellent):
Pirc Defense book:
Endgames book:

Learn how to play Chess the right way from beginner to master level. National Master Robert Ramirez will take you up the pyramid by following a proven Chess training program he has been improving and implementing for over 10 years.

Benefits of Playing Chess:
​- Promotes brain growth
– Increases problem-solving skills
– It exercises both sides of the brain
– Raises your IQ
– Sparks your creativity
– Teaches planning and foresight
– Teaches patience and concentration
– Optimizes memory improvement
– Improves recovery from stroke or disability
– Helps treat ADHD
Chess is an intellectual battle where players are exposed to numerous mental processes such as analysis, attention to detail, synthesis, concentration, planning and foresight. Psychological factors are also present on and off the board; playing Chess stimulates our imagination and creativity. Every single move a player makes is the result of a deep analysis based on the elements presented on the battlefield.

Chess in its essence teaches us psychological, sociological and even moral values. In a Chess game, both players start with the same amount of material and time. The fact that the white pieces move first is considered to be practically irrelevant —especially because a player typically plays one game as white and one game as black. Consequently, the final result of the battle solely depends on each player. It doesn’t matter if you win by taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes or by simply avoiding mistakes yourself. Truth is that Chess is an extremely individual sport and our defeats can only be blamed on ourselves and no one else. And this, in the end, only benefits us because we learn to be and feel responsible for our actions and never come up with excuses to justify ourselves.

We also learn that when it comes to our victories on the board, our opponent’s mistakes play a more significant role than our own skills. Let’s not forget that a Chess game without any mistakes would be a draw. This way, Chess provides us with another valuable life lesson: be humble at all times.

About National Master Robert Ramirez:

With an outstanding background as a professional Chess player and over 8 years of teaching experience, Robert Ramirez brings both his passion and his expertise to the board, helping you believe & achieve!

Robert Ramirez was introduced to the fascinating world of Chess when he was 5 years old and has participated in prestigious tournaments such as the World Open Chess Tournament and the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Championships. Thanks to his performance, he has earned his National Master title from the United States Chess Federation.

Currently, NM Ramirez and his carefully selected team teach at several private schools in the counties of Miami-Dade and Broward and they also offer private lessons. He says the key to their success as Chess coaches is their ability to adapt to every student and to make lessons fun and interesting for students and even their family members.

150 Comments

  1. I watch only this video of yours..
    You deserve 1M subscribers❤❤

  2. Hi robert kindly share your lichess study regarding this chapter. Will be obliged.
    “Finfans” is the username

  3. I always take snap shots of certain moves you make and try to visualize it later on. I grew on my bullet and daily games a lot, thanks

  4. where is this pircs defense you talking about I have not seen it

  5. Is the Kings Indien and Pircs defense good for beginner?

  6. Please do cover the Be3 move in more detail. Ng4 is a good response. But my plans involve just taking (exd4) instead, to keep everything really easy to remember. If d5, Nc5. If exchange, no problem. Bg5, just play h6. Any other move just play exd4. Easy. They'll recapture with the knight (bishop or queen recapture gives black a small advantage). But what are the plans after that? 🙂

  7. I really appreciate that you explain the intention behind every opening move it highlights the importance of not just copying whatever order someone says

  8. I am a new player and the way you tought this opening was very motivating to follow. You covered a lot of stuff that I won't get right away obviously, but because of the constant repition I felt more confident in the opening than I could have imagined from a simple youtube video. Your video helped me a lot to learn and have fun with the King´s Indian!

  9. Changes to your name will be reflected only on yt. says:

    Damn I play 1 game everyday and I haven't lost for weeks✨nice✨

  10. Yes, very useful, but I wish you would curb alot of the chit chat.😇

  11. What if the pawn beats you to e5 because you did knight to a 6 first?

  12. 13:15 if they didn't play knight e1 can i still play f5 because they can capture that pawn and my king would be exposed i always get destroyed in that line

  13. I really appreciate the amount work you put into your channel. I am a self-taught player (1600-1700 blitz) who hasn't played in years. These are the most awesome refresher courses. Thank you so much 🙏

  14. This video helped me understand a lot more about this opening. Great video!

  15. Who was the opponent in the Kasparov game with the rook sacrifice?

  16. Hey im just wondering how we should attack if they castle queenside? I've had it a couple times and it confuses me because I'm always been taught kings Indians you attack kingside does that stay the same if they castle queenside?

  17. 13:44 I like how Bishop on e3 becomes Pawn on f2 in this variation. Definitely should be win for black!

  18. Bro,! you taught me a lot in 30mins,
    I've been struggling playing with the black pieces and you just helped me learned this, thanks!

  19. Wonderful content, thank you so much for your videos! They're helping me so much. The way in which you explain and teach is super instructive.

    One question on the classical variation with Na5 included (minute 21:08): what is your recommended continuation if opponent simply goes 8. Re1?

    8… b6?c6?Bg4? …?

    Again, thank you so much!

  20. robert sir i used i play nc3 instead of na3 or ef5 before should i play nc3 or other 2 choices

  21. Great stuff. Do you cover Caro or London systems openings?

  22. Amazing video! I love that you repeat the moves a lot!

  23. really helpful video thanks for the work

  24. I love this guy's opening tutorials, relaxing, genius and effective

  25. Can someone please let me know if the kings Indian defense is only when white starts with D4 I’ve been playing this setup with black when white does anything and it’s not working out, so if I would like to play this setup should I be using the kings Indian defense?

  26. 6:12 Im still an intermidiate player but in my experience playing g6 before Nf6 allows white to play e4 which then forces black to play e6. This actually become a modern defense and not KID. After this happens white could play Nc3 and it results in white not playing c4 which affects the game in some ways like allowing white to capture the knight if black later on plays Na6 because the c4 pawn doesnt block the bishop

  27. Hello Robert, what should I do when players attack aggressively? They try to use scholars checkmates on me, and I am forced to defend and it puts me in bad position.

  28. Juuuust about hit the big 100k Robert, well deserved.

  29. What the best white ,,long oo casling,,o,,o

  30. I don't know yet whit one is better ka3 or kd2 pleae answer

  31. @5:45 it’s recommended to “move order” 1.) d4 g6 and then 2.) … Nf6. So for anyone looking to try this, here’s what I’ll tell you from my experience. You will allow white to play e4, taking the whole center and transposing to a pirc/modern setup, which is an entirely different opening, and feels quite uncomfortable for an aspiring Kings Indian player like myself. 1.) … g6 is played to avoid the Trompowsky attack. So you will either need to adapt to learning the Pirc (which will transpose often IME) AND the King’s Indian, or just learn to play some lines against the Trompowsky, which only happens sometimes, and which is pretty easy IMO to play against (eg black has simple plans of d5, Nbd7 etc.). I personally prefer the latter. So be warned of how this move order trick will affect your games and prep accordingly! Great channel, thank you.

  32. Fantastic lesson, Robert! I will be learning it little by little. I've been playing it a bit without knowing almost anything, and seeing games so exciting and accurate is very inspiring. I already want to study to be able to play better. Thanks so much again :')

  33. Im saving this playlist and ill keep coming back here so i can have a tremendous amount of advantages when i join tournaments or play games. Thanks for teaching us😊

  34. You talk and repeat yourself too much. It makes your videos tedious

  35. I am not exaggerating when I say this an absolutely exceptional channel. Did not expect you to cover London, 4 pawns, Samisch etc. all on your channel. This is the quality of paid content!

    I play Caro against e4 and know a lot of theory, but was always more shaky with my kings Indian theory so I will watch this and the rest of your videos diligently. Instant sub!

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