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.
King's Indian Defense: Mar del Plata Variation (10.f3 f5 11.Be3 f4 12.Bf2 g5)
This sharp and complex line arises after the moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. f3 f5 11. Be3 f4 12. Bf2 g5.
Characteristic of the move 12...g5: Black aggressively expands on the kingside, aiming to gain space and initiate a strong pawn storm against White's king position. This push supports the f4 pawn and prepares for further attacking chances, typical of the Mar del Plata aggressive setup.
Attacking or Defensive: For Black, this move is clearly attacking, as it seeks to undermine White’s center and kingside structure while preparing a direct assault on White’s king. For White, the position requires careful defense and counterplay, often revolving around central and queenside breaks to blunt Black’s initiative.
Center Control: The Mar del Plata Variation emphasizes dynamic control of the center. While Black initially cedes some central space to White’s pawns, the aggressive pawn pushes (f5, f4, g5) aim to challenge and destabilize White’s central presence. White typically tries to hold and expand the center with moves like f3 and d5, while Black counterattacks it with active piece play and pawn breaks.
Overall, this line embodies the classic King's Indian theme of a tense battle over the center combined with a fierce kingside attack by Black, demanding precise play from both sides.
You can also discover how top players used King's Indian: Mar del Plata, 10.f3 f5 11.Be3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.