KID or Grünfeld defense?

I prefer the King's Indian. The Panno variation, if I can get it.

The Grunfeld was my first opening vs 1.d4 some 50 years ago. Eventually gave up on it rather soon because it had too much theory (now it is even more).

I have never played the KID as Black because it is strategically too complex, and it's also huge in theory (Kotronias in Quality Chess has managed to form a repertoire which limits the theory to be learnt down to just 2,344 pages).

And both of them are quite unforgiving- one opening mistake against a strong opponent, and you are toast.

Leaving aside the usual ultra-solid QGD and Nimzo/Bogo stuff, if you want to play actively and asymmetrically without needing to memorize a ton or taking big risks, the Benko (and its branches if white does not opt for 2.c4) is a fine opening.

But you can skip all that for later. At your current level, the opening is the least important part of the game, by far.

I prefer to play the Grunfeld over the KID…… as white.

It's part of our IM catch-and-release program.

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