Chess Opening · E73
King S Indian Averbakh
For sub-1000 ELO players
The King's Indian Averbakh (ECO E73, Averbakh Variation) gives White a slight edge of +0.4 according to Stockfish 17 at depth 25. Sub-1000 players either panic at the Bg5 pin or ignore it entirely. The correct approach is to play c5 immediately to challenge the d4 pawn before White locks the center with d5.
The Best Response
Moves to Play
White · Black alternating
1. d4 Nf62. c4 g63. Nc3 Bg74. e4 d65. Be2 O-O6. Bg5 c51. d4 Nf6: White opens with the queen's pawn and Black develops the knight to contest e4. 2. c4 g6: White expands in the center while Black prepares the King's Indian fianchetto. 3. Nc3 Bg7: White develops the knight to support e4 and Black completes the fianchetto. 4. e4 d6: White establishes the broad center and Black plays the standard restraint. 5. Be2 O-O: White develops the bishop to a solid square and Black castles kingside. 6. Bg5 c5: White plays the defining Averbakh move, pinning the knight, and Black's best response is to immediately challenge the center with c5.
Who Stands Better
(slight advantage for White)
Copy these moves:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c53 Mistakes Sub-1000 Players Make
These are the patterns we see in games below 1000 ELO. Fix these and you'll stop losing to this opening.
Black continues kingside plans without noticing White controls the center. Missing the f5 or e5 break at the right moment costs the position.
d5Black continues kingside plans without noticing White controls the center. Missing the f5 or e5 break at the right moment costs the position.
Be3Black continues kingside plans without noticing White controls the center. Missing the f5 or e5 break at the right moment costs the position.
d5Why This Opening Trips You Up
The Core Problem
Sub-1000 players get rattled by the Bg5 pin and either panic or ignore it. Both responses lead to trouble.
Before Your Next Game
Against the Averbakh, play c5 to challenge the d4 pawn immediately. If you let White play d5 unchallenged, you will run out of space.
What to Study
Learn how to handle bishop pins on f6. The standard ideas are h6, e5, or simply ignoring the pin when it is safe.
Engine-verified by Stockfish 17 at depth 25. Reviewed by Jon Stenstrom, Chess.com 759 Daily, Founder, 1000elo.com.
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