Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

← chickentendie5 / Openings

Playing White · 37 rapid games · 20W 15L 2D · Your opponents choose this

King's Indian Defense

Your Bg5 system works, until you miss the Bxf6 moment.

Score57%+8% vs your average
Win chance after move 1249%+2% vs your average
Blunders per game0.73−0.18 vs your average
Clock left at move 109:47+9s vs your average
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Your most common line

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bg5 d6 6. e3

What it says about you

Your opponents choose the King's Indian. You meet it with an early Bg5 and e3 (the Smyslov-style system) rather than the sharp main lines. That is a practical, low-theory choice that avoids a kingside attack race. It suits someone who would rather play solid chess than memorise 20 moves of Mar del Plata.

How you play it

You score 56.8% (20-15-2), comfortably above your 48.3% overall, although the last 10 games are only 45%. The opening comes out about even: your win chance is 49.3 at move 12 against a 47.3 baseline, and 46.1 at move 20. You play these fast (587s left at move 10) and blunder less than usual (0.73 per game against 0.91). Once you are winning you convert well, 17 of 20. The problem is that 3 of your 13 decided losses went wrong in the opening itself, which is unusual for you.

Last 90 days: 10 games, 45% score.

What you're missing

  1. 01

    The key tactic in your own system. At move 13 you played a3 when Bxf6 won material (58% down to 19%). The Bg5 pin exists to make that capture work, so it should always be the first move you check.

  2. 02

    Central breaks at the right moment. 9.Rb1 (best was 9.e5) dropped you from 85% to 46%, and 9.O-O missed 9.Nxe5 (81% down to 51%). Both at move 9 with nearly 10 minutes left, so this is not time pressure, just playing quickly.

  3. 03

    The Smyslov tag itself. The Normal Smyslov Variation scores 0% over 4 games, while the Normal lines score 58.3% over 18. When Black answers the Bg5 setup accurately, you do not seem to have a plan B.

  4. 04

    Late collapse in one game: 32.Qxc6 took you from 46% to 2% when 32.Ra8 was needed, which shows the typical pressure against your queenside from a KID bishop on g7.

How to improve it

  1. 01

    Know Black's standard answers to Bg5/e3. ...c5 and ...Qb6 hitting b2, ...h6 and ...g5 chasing the bishop, and ...Ne4 hitting g5 and c3. Prepare a response to each, such as Qd2, Bh4 and d5.

  2. 02

    Make Bxf6 part of your checklist in every position where the knight on f6 defends e4, d5 or h7. In both of your recent missed tactics, taking on f6 won material or removed a key defender.

  3. 03

    When Black pushes ...e5 or ...c5, think about pushing past with d5 and using the extra space. Or take on e5 or c5 and open the d-file while your pieces are more active. Either way, avoid slow moves like Rb1 or a3 while the centre is still undecided.

  4. 04

    You only lose 3 of these endgames. Aim to simplify into slightly better endgames with the g7 bishop blocked by your pawns.

Where it goes wrong

Your losses in this opening, by where and how the decisive mistake happened.

Phase of the decisive mistake

opening3n=3
middlegame7n=7
endgame3n=3

What the mistake was

Hung a piece (left it undefended)4n=4
Didn't see opponent's 2–3 move combination4n=4
Outplayed gradually (no single big error)2n=2
Endgame technique error2n=2
Big positional error (no simple tactic)2n=2

Variations you reach

Normal1858%
Normal Variation O O764%
Normal Smyslov Variation40%
Zinnowitz Variation3100%

Winning positions converted here: 85% (17 of 20).

Recent mistakes in this opening

Your move in red, Stockfish's in black.

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Positional error · 9:41 left
9. Rb1? Best was e5. 85% → 46%
vs icecold12 (2136) · 27-09-26 →
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Missed a tactic · 9:26 left
13. a3? Best was Bxf6. 58% → 19%
vs klapte1342 (2169) · 26-09-26 →
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Missed a tactic · 9:22 left
9. O-O? Best was Nxe5. 81% → 51%
vs Leejuhanchess (2150) · 26-09-26 →
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Positional error · 2:56 left
32. Qxc6? Best was Ra8. 46% → 2%
vs MateusSula_17 (2200) · 19-09-26 →

Next steps

01

Add Bxf6 to your checklist

In any position with your bishop pinning f6, check Bxf6 first. Two recent early mistakes in this system missed it or its tactical cousin, Nxe5.

02

Prep vs the Smyslov setups

0% over 4 games in the Normal Smyslov line. Review those four games and write down one plan against ...c5 with ...Qb6 and one against ...h6/...g5.

03

Slow down at move 9

Both of your worst recent errors came at move 9 with over 9 minutes left. Use 60 seconds there, since that is when the central break decides the game.