The Makogonov Variation is currently among the most popular ways to fight the King’s Indian at the highest level.
For an introduction to the KID, watch this video on the basics:https://youtu.be/mND6TK5dSKQ
For those looking for a simple, flexible, and easy weapon against the KID, the Makogonov might be the right choice. While it can produce complicated, tactical games, it is first of all a variation based on pattern recognition and opening ideas, instead on crude theory. It doesn’t require learning 20 moves of theory as some other variations do.
White plays a flexible move on move 5 – h3. Instead of going for the Classical, Saemisch, or some other well know lines which have their own intricacies. This move leaves much more space for creativity and unexpected ideas.
The move itself is easily understandable. It does three things:
1. It supports the move g4, which expands on the kingside and can be the beginning of an attack.
2. The move g4, in turn, makes it much harder for black to play f5.
3. h3 also prevents the black knight from jumping into g4, which enables white to play Be3 without being chased away.
Along with that, h3 can also be considered a waiting move. White can still play in style of several variations of the King’s Indian. You might call it a high-class waiting move.
The variation scores better for white, but in some lines there is a high percentage of draws. So, in conclusion, the Makogonov is certainly not the most aggressive line for white, but it’s complicated to play for black and if he isn’t familiar with it, and continues with thematic plans for some other variations, white could win an easy point!
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