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Hi, I'm IM Raven Sturt from the USA.
This is my first ever contribution to the Chess Publishing Catalog. I’m excited to be here as I’ve been a passionate reader for a couple years. I’ve been given the privilege of covering the King’s Indian and while not originally a fan, over the last couple years I’ve become very interested in it and the remarkable diversity of positions that can arise from it. It’s become my favorite opening and I’m glad to have the opportunity to explore it every month for your (and my!) curiosity :)
I like chess, working out, and learning languages. Some career highlights include making International Master in 2017 and being the most recent (2019) champion of the Catalan Circuit. Currently some of my goals are to make Grand Master, learn Turkish, and, Corona-permitting, doing the 2021 Iron Man.
This month we have a relative hodge-podge of variations looked at. We have games in the Fianchetto, and Bayonet variations. We also look at a game in the 5...Bg4 sideline, and one in the 6...Na6 sideline. We also look at the interesting Panno sideline with 7.Bf4.

Download PGN of September ’20 KID games

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Fianchetto Variation, Uhlmann's line 7...e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 [E62]

6.0-0 Nc6 7.Nc3 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Nd2 where in Ju, W - Harika, D Black chose 10...Qb8!?:

This move was mentioned in notes by my predecessor, IM Vigorito earlier this year. In the game White went for 11.Qc1!? which seems to make the mark.


Fianchetto, Panno Variation with early Bf4 [E63]

I also analyzed an early Bf4 after both 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Bf4 and 6.0-0 Nc6 7.Bf4, which was suggested by one of our subscribers, Brazilian GM Luis Supi:

This is an interesting option as it bypasses a lot of the variations Black might opt for involving an early ...e5 and so on. Black can still transpose into heavy mainlines after 7...a6 but as those have been troublesome for Black I looked for something else. In the end I think Black has two interesting ways to capitalize on the early Bf4 in either 7...Nh5 or 7...Ne4, see Analysis Panno 7.Bf4.


Fianchetto, Classical Mainline 8.e4 c6 9.Be3 Re8 [E69]

In Banusz, T - Onischuk, V, following 6.0-0 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4 c6 9.Be3 Re8 10.h3 b6 11.Qc2 Bb7:

White went for the exchange on e5. I show in my notes why I think fixing the space advantage with 12.d5 is even better.



Seirawan Variation 6.Nge2 Nc6 7.0-0 e5 [E70]

5.Bd3 0-0 6.Nge2 Nc6 7.0-0 e5 8.d5 Nd4 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.Ne2 Re8 11.f3 c5 12.Ng3:

Here in Moroni, L - Theodorou, N, Black opted for 12...h5. playing the position in a way reminiscent of f3 Benoni structures. The idea doesn’t hold water though as White had many routes to a clear advantage before the game ultimately swung against him.



Classical Variation 5...Bg4 6.Be2 0-0 7.Be3 Nfd7 [E91]

5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be2 0-0 7.Be3 Nfd7 8.0-0 Nc6 9.d5 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Na5 11.Be2 Bxc3 12.bxc3 e5 13.dxe6 fxe6:

Here in Giri, A- Anton Guijarro, D, White opted for 14.Bh6!?. Though White ultimately got a good position and won, if Black had played precisely this move wouldn’t have gotten White much.


Classical Variation 6...Na6 7.0-0 e5 8.Be3 c6 9.d5 [E94]

6.Be2 Na6 7.0-0 e5 8.Be3 c6 9.d5 Ng4 10.Bg5 f6 11.Bh4 c5:

Here Ne1 has been very popular. Ghaem Maghami instead played 12.a3 and got the promising side of a still very complex struggle, though the game did not finish in his favor, see Ghaem Maghami, E - Priasmoro, N.


Classical, Bayonet Attack 9...a5 10.bxa5 c5 11.a4 [E97]

9.b4 a5 10.bxa5 c5 11.a4 Rxa5 12.Bd2 Ra6:

Here, in Wagner, D - Tabatabiei, M, White played the rare move 13.Ra3 with some interesting ideas involving swinging the rook.


Classical, Bayonet Attack 9...Nh5 10.c5 Nf4 11.a4 [E97]

9.b4 Nh5 10.c5 Nf4 11.a4:

In Grischuk, A - Saric, I Black, went with the dubious novelty 11...a5?! and quickly got into a tough position, though ultimately fighting for the draw.



Until next month, Raven

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Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions with me. Any queries or comments to the KID Forum, or to me directly at david@ChessPublishing.com (subscribers only) would be most welcome.