King's Indian Mar del Plata: Adviser, Diagrams and Replay Lab

The King's Indian Mar del Plata Variation is the locked-centre Classical King's Indian structure after White plays d5 and Black reroutes with ...Ne7. Use the Mar del Plata locked-centre start diagram.

A standard move order is 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. Use the locked-centre start diagram.

Yes. It is a major Classical King's Indian branch where the centre locks and both sides race on opposite wings. Use the Branch Map to return to the Classical page.

The name is associated with famous King's Indian practice in Mar del Plata and has become shorthand for these locked-centre attacking structures. Use the Replay Lab for practical examples.

White usually attacks on the queenside with b4, c5, a4, Ba3 or open-file pressure. Use the Bayonet 9.b4 diagram.

Black usually attacks on the kingside with ...f5, ...f4, ...g5, ...h5 and piece lifts toward the white king. Use the Adviser with side set to Black.

The centre is locked, so both players can attack on opposite wings without immediate central liquidation. Use the locked-centre start diagram.

Yes, if studied by plans. The pattern is memorable: White attacks queenside, Black attacks kingside. Use the Adviser first.

The Bayonet Attack is 9.b4, where White gains queenside space immediately after the locked-centre setup. Use the Bayonet 9.b4 diagram.

White plays 9.b4 to support c5, bxa5 or a queenside file opening before Black's kingside attack arrives. Use the Bayonet 9.b4 diagram.

After 9.b4, ...a5 challenges White's queenside pawns and tries to slow b4-b5 or c4-c5 expansion. Use the 9.b4 a5 diagram.

Ba3 adds pressure to d6 and helps White use the a-file and queenside squares. Use the 9.b4 a5 replay group.

bxa5 opens or fixes queenside targets and can make Black's rook or a-pawn placement awkward. Use the 9.b4 a5 10.bxa5 replay group.

...Nh5 heads toward f4, supports ...f5-f4 and creates kingside threats. Use the 9.b4 Nh5 diagram.

...Ne8 supports ...f5 while keeping the knight flexible and sometimes preparing ...f5 without allowing easy tactics. Use the 9.b4 Ne8 diagram.

White should open the queenside when Black's kingside attack is not yet decisive and White's rooks can enter through a- or b-files. Use the Replay Lab's Bayonet groups.

9.Ne1 reroutes the knight and supports Nd3, Be3, f3 or defensive kingside reinforcement. Use the 9.Ne1 Nd7 diagram.

...Nd7 supports ...f5 and frees the queen's knight from tactical pressure while keeping the kingside attack flexible. Use the 9.Ne1 Nd7 diagram.

9.Nd2 keeps the knight flexible, supports b4 or c5, and reduces some pressure on f3. Use the 9.Nd2 diagram.

9.Kh1 steps out of diagonal tactics and prepares a slower battle where White may use Ne1, f3 or queenside expansion. Use the Replay Lab's 9.Kh1 group.

White may delay b4 to improve pieces first, avoid prepared counterplay, or switch to a central and kingside restraint plan. Use the Adviser with side set to White.

Black may delay ...f5 to improve piece placement, stop White's queenside break, or set up ...Nh5, ...Ne8 or ...Nd7 first. Use the Adviser with side set to Black.

The Bayonet is immediate queenside space; manoeuvre systems prepare the same race more slowly with knight reroutes and defensive choices. Use the diagram grid.

Choose Bayonet for direct queenside play, 9.Ne1 for a classic manoeuvre, 9.Nd2 for flexibility, or 9.Kh1 for a slower anti-tactic setup. Use the Adviser.

Black often plays ...f5, ...f4, ...g5, ...Ng6 or ...Nh5, ...h5 and rook lifts to attack White's king. Use the Replay Lab's Black-win groups.

...f5 is the main break that turns Black's space disadvantage into attacking momentum. Use the locked-centre start diagram.

...f4 gains space, pushes White's pieces back and opens routes for ...g5, ...h5 and piece sacrifices. Use the 9.b4 Nh5 diagram.

Rook lifts such as ...Rf7, ...Rg7, ...Rh6 or ...Rf6 add heavy pieces to the kingside attack when files are not yet open. Use the Replay Lab's Nakamura and Radjabov games.

Black plays ...a5 when the priority is to slow White's queenside expansion before launching the kingside attack. Use the 9.b4 a5 diagram.

Black plays ...Nh5 when the priority is to accelerate kingside threats and pressure f4 or g3. Use the 9.b4 Nh5 diagram.

Black plays ...Ne8 when the priority is flexible support for ...f5 and a less committal knight route. Use the 9.b4 Ne8 diagram.

Black's biggest mistake is attacking too slowly and allowing White to open the queenside without a counter-threat. Use the Replay Lab's White-win groups.

Start with Kramnik vs Kasparov for White's Bayonet squeeze, then compare Aronian vs Radjabov for Black's counterattack. Use the Replay Lab selector.

Kramnik vs Kasparov, Topalov vs Morozevich and Topalov vs Nakamura show 9.b4 with ...a5 or related queenside structures. Use the 9.b4 a5 replay groups.

Aronian vs Radjabov, Kramnik vs Grischuk and Kramnik vs Nakamura show ...Nh5 counterplay in Bayonet structures. Use the 9.b4 Nh5 replay groups.

Ivanchuk vs Radjabov and Anand vs Nakamura show ...Ne8 ideas against the Bayonet. Use the 9.b4 Ne8 replay group.

Aronian vs Carlsen and Ponomariov vs Nakamura show 9.Ne1 systems. Use the 9.Ne1 replay group.

Kramnik vs Nakamura shows 9.Nd2 in a modern high-level game. Use the 9.Nd2 replay group.

Kramnik vs Kasparov, Topalov vs Morozevich, Kramnik vs Grischuk, Nakamura vs Radjabov, Topalov vs Nakamura and Ponomariov vs Nakamura show White resources. Use the White-result replay groups.

Aronian vs Radjabov, Ivanchuk vs Radjabov, Aronian vs Carlsen, Kramnik vs Nakamura and Anand vs Nakamura show Black attacking resources. Use the Black-result replay groups.

White should play it if they are comfortable taking queenside space while defending against a direct kingside attack. Use the Adviser with side set to White.

Black should play it if they want dynamic attacking chances and are comfortable with opposite-wing races. Use the Adviser with side set to Black.

It is theoretical, but the strategic race is clear enough to study through diagrams and model games first. Use the diagram grid before deep replay study.

Yes, the Bayonet is one of the most important modern tests because it starts queenside play immediately. Use the Bayonet 9.b4 diagram.

Yes, 9.Ne1 remains a strong manoeuvring option if White wants more control before queenside expansion. Use the 9.Ne1 Nd7 diagram.

Yes, 9.Nd2 is usually less forcing and more flexible, but Black still gets kingside play. Use the 9.Nd2 diagram.

After this page, study the Classical Variation parent, Petrosian Variation, Sämisch Variation, Four Pawns Attack and Fianchetto Variation. Use the Branch Map links.

Use one diagram to learn the structure, one Adviser recommendation to choose a plan, and one Replay Lab group to see the plan in action. Use the Adviser first.