In the second game, black didn't use the plan of f5 and storming the kingside pawns. Should I avoid doing that if white doesn't have a pawn on d5? Feels like I have exposed my king trying to use that plan when maybe i shouldn't.
The KID Against the English (1.c4)
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First off, thanks for the effort, Jen! For whatever it's worth, you've already earned yourself a trophy.
Second, yes, I am very familiar with the KID, so transpositions are not a problem. My primary point of interest is how to play KID set-ups as Black against distinctly English White lines.
The English is a problem for a KID player because it not allow the same strategic concepts as does against 1.d4 . when at the same time White can tackle the center and flank structure in several ways. If Blacks play e5 then Bg5 followed by Nd5 becomes a concern.
Perhaps it's time for you to enter Gruenfeld set ups with 1...g6 2...c5 3...Nc6 were White can't enter a Maroczy neither to transpose to annoying set ups! If he plays d4 it's most welcome...if he doesn't it's okay...you still have the Indian set up you like, with out concern about the center.
Hmm.. perhaps that is something to consider. Thanks for your input, @Bishop_g5.
May 12, 2017
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#7
Axonn wrote:
Hmm.. perhaps that is something to consider. Thanks for your input, @Bishop_g5.
I've spent the last year playing the sicilian/ studying it thoroughly. I found I like the dynamic pawn action and sources of attack for both sides. I just started playing the English and Nimzo-Indian. As black there is a line where black plays c6 preparing for d5 to neutralize the center control of white. I find it annoying to play against. e5 is a challenging game to play against as well for white. They have to know what they are doing.
Always remember this. The best is an ambiguous term that doesn't have a lot of weight behind it. What has weight is how can you use your pieces go leverage an advantage and what can you do with that advantage or what are you suppose to do with that advantage. You gotta know the moves and the strategies for the remainder of that opening and then you will come out with some great victories whichever lines you choose.
Thanks for your thoughts, @lovebecause.
A friend of mine said that a good response to the English is to play a Slav structure; your comment about c6 and d5 supports that idea.
May 12, 2017
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#9
Yes, the Slav and the Caro can be played against just about anything. Just get the ball in your court ;-). Good luck.
I used to play the Slav, but I'm really into the KID at this point. It's likely going to be hard for me to switch to a different system... but I suppose flexibility is one thing that separates the contenders from the pretenders.
Nevertheless, thanks! Trophy coming your way.
I see.
And I think that's really why I want to find a KID-based response to the English: I don't mind putting in work to learn something new/different if I have to, but if at all possible, I want to become a specialist in just one main discipline.
May 12, 2017
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#12
jengaias wrote:
Axonn wrote:
I used to play the Slav, but I'm really into the KID at this point. It's likely going to be hard for me to switch to a different system... but I suppose flexibility is one thing that separates the contenders from the pretenders.
Nevertheless, thanks! Trophy coming your way.
Actually deep understanding is what separates the "contenders" from the " "pretenders".
If you must choose between being very good in one opening and mediocre in many , choose the first.Noone loses from inflexibility especially in levels under 2600.When you play against Maxim Vachier Lagrave maybe a refinement of your openings will be necessary.
I agree to some extent. Its good to explore openings and to know the basics of the game. This will allow you to pick up any opening. If you play openings you don't like then why master them? I've seen the pros pick up many different openings when going into the world championship that they did not normally play in tournament play to win it all. I started experimenting with playing new openings and found things I liked and didn't like. I even returned to the English and the Schevenengen rather than the Reti the Najdorf. Transpositions may occur, but these are my new lines I'm taking up. Still needing further study. How did you settle on the openings you play now?
May 12, 2017
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#13
In the games at the top 13.Qb3 is better than Bb2, as after Qd7 white cn play Rd1 preventuing black from exchanging bishops. The whole line is very tricky though especially for white, if he forgets theory like I did recently he can easily be subject to fierce kingside attack. Objectively good position for white but difficult to play.
9....Nd4 is another method for black to try and equalise.
A good book on the subject is strategic opening repetoire by Donaldson, but it pretty hardcore
Kostens book on the English probably more straight forward and easier to digest. The botvinnik system sound and fairly easy to play
May 13, 2017
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#14
Another idea is 7d3 h6, preventing Bg5, BxN is generally quite useful , avoiding Nc6 for time being aiming to play in centre with c6,and d5. Koutranous first showed this idea in the old book "Beating the Flank Openings", and Yelena Dembo expanded on the ideas a bit in "Fighting the anti-kingsindians". One example is here
https://www.chess.com/echess/game?id=14960592
May 13, 2017
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#15
When my username was ThirdCultureKud, peeps used to call me The Kid 
And Im Scottish so when U saw this forum..
May 13, 2017
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#17
OP: No KIDding (especially in the English setup). 
Do U really wanna avoid d4? Otherwise, it's just the normal KID.
Bishop_g5 a écrit :
The English is a problem for a KID player because it not allow the same strategic concepts as does against 1.d4 . when at the same time White can tackle the center and flank structure in several ways. If Blacks play e5 then Bg5 followed by Nd5 becomes a concern.
Perhaps it's time for you to enter Gruenfeld set ups with 1...g6 2...c5 3...Nc6 were White can't enter a Maroczy neither to transpose to annoying set ups! If he plays d4 it's most welcome...if he doesn't it's okay...you still have the Indian set up you like, with out concern about the center.
Really?
One of the advantages about KI is that it works against every white's sets up, even english.
I don't see the problem for black in pure English, playing KI style as it was showed here.
As TwoMove pointed it out, Y.Dembo's "fighting the anti KI" is fine, like Bologan's chapter on english on his KI's book.
Playing with c5 allowing a different structure after d4 from white is far from simple in my opinion...
Hey, Chess.com.
I'm trying to crowdsource for ideas regarding how to play the KID against the several variations of the English. Can anyone point me to some good resources? Any good help would be much appreciated!
P.S. Great help will likely warrant a Chess.com trophy...