This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Reti: King's Indian Attack (KIA)
The Reti Opening with the King's Indian Attack setup arises after the moves 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6. This opening is characterized by White's fianchetto of the kingside bishop, aiming for solid control of the long diagonal and flexible development.
Characteristic: The key feature of this opening is White's hypermodern approach—controlling the center from a distance rather than occupying it immediately with pawns. The kingside fianchetto supports central and queenside play while keeping the king safe.
Playing Style: As White, this setup is generally considered a flexible and somewhat positional system, focusing on a solid, harmonious setup rather than immediate attacks. It can lead to both attacking and defensive plans depending on Black's response. As Black, the setup is fairly standard, aiming to challenge White's control of the center and develop naturally.
Center Control: The opening does not directly attack the center with pawns early on but exerts pressure on it from the flanks, particularly via the bishop on g2 and knight maneuvers. White often plans to strike in the center later with moves like c4 or d3 followed by e4, depending on the position.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Reti: KIA, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 18 - Move #9 white
You can also discover how top players used Reti: KIA to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.