What is the best way to attack the Hippopotamus Defense??

Slowly

I personally always like to use the early f4-f5 to create a point of attack in their setup.

It doesn't seem that flank attacks on the c and f files work as well as it should.

True! The problem is when I go to forums I never intend on writing long posts lol. I hate writing in general lol. I love numbers, math, stats stuff like that. My goal on forums is to just try to give small insightful advice than leave lol.

The issue I have is sometimes when I start writing or even talking in real life. I get myself carryed away on a tangent/rant. Usually the reason is becuase I have alot I can say about the position. Than before I know it I look at what I have wrote and it turns into being a book lol. Than I look at it and I am like Oh gosh what have I done.

I went to give few bits of advice and it turned into a novel lol. The funny thing is sometimes I do turn my forum post into blogs. I never intended them being a blog or a novel lol it just sort of happened.

The day I did that above post I was on a roll. I was going to show c5 break as well. However, For some reason I couldn't write any more lol. Maybe chess.com was like shut up already lol and stopped me. I don't know. My pc was acting funny as well so I don't know what the issue was.

I suppose it happens to some people in life. They like something or know about something than begin talking about it or writing about it than before you know it 10 hours just went by lol or a text wall/novel appears.

I had stuff to do that day as well. I was totally late didn't even get a chance to do any of the stuff I had planned lol. Yeah the gift of gab some say its a curse you know lol.

The funny thing is I use to know some elderly people who would talk all day to me lol at times.  I use to get really annoyed when they kept talking. They would also try to stop me from leaving lol. I would get irritated with them lol.

However, As I get older in life I have started to realize. I should be more welcoming. I have began noticing that I too have been doing the same lol. I use to get irriated when people did that to me and now I'm doing it like a complete hypocrite lol.

However, I realize now maybe they was not trying to do it on purpose. Sometimes you just have to much to say and talk about. Its like they say you start to grow up. You get older more wiser lol. You have so much more to talk about.

@Optimissed: aside from the fact that hardly a player would choose 3...e6 here, 1...g6 players don't tend to use a Hippo setup when White starts in KID fashion.

Edit: it's probably true that White can force Black into not playing a Hippo (or into playing an inferior Hippo) by going for a big centre immediately. There is a book named "The Hippopotamus Rises" by Andrew Martin where he tries to find ways to play hippo setups against virtually everything, which is quite instructive.

interesting post I've never played against it. thanks for information too play

The best way would be to humbly offer a draw. If they say no, then grab for all the space you can get....and bring lotsa snacks - it'll be a pretty long game.

My point was that most 1...g6 players will delay committing moves (like 3...e6) and play g6,d6,Bg7 and maybe a6 and Nd7. Lots of useful waiting moves to see if White chooses a setup where a Hippo makes sense. If White goes for e.g. a KID setup, Black will usually not play a Hippo.

Many 1...g6 players including myself will agree that it's most annoying if White just goes for a KID setup. Black has the choice to play a KID (but 1...g6 players usually don't like theory, so the KID isn't a good choice for many of them) or to go for the Averbakh System, which many don't like.

I do agree with your statement that they will wait to see what white does before commiting such e6 moves.

However, I do believe your last statement was a matter of opinion. I disagree that the KID setup is annoying. The reason why is becuase I frankly love the KID lol. So I believe that might be a matter of opinion.

I have seen players use alot of different move orders to get into a Hippo Defence. From 1.e4, 1.c4, 1.d4

Some players use the Rat Defense/Small Center Defense move order

I have also seen players use the French Defense move order into a same small center.

 Owens Defense move order

Modern Defence move order

I have also seen some players transpose into other lines if they believe there Hippo Set up is not as favorable.

An lastly since we are on the subject of talking about different transpositions that can be made if they choice not to play the Hippo. We can not forget about the Lions Defense/Lion's Jaw variation.

Which has a ECO code of B07: Lion Defense/Lion's Jaw 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.f3

Which is a very common line used all the time in chess. I see this line all the time. Obviously its a boss line which is why it is played alot. An you may be a beginner reading this forum. Thinking you can try this line out becuase of its kool name. Well all I can say to you is you can't. The reason why you can't is becuase this line is not recommended to beginners it is very sharp line obviously. They do not call the line Lion's Jaws becuase its dull. Lion's in nature have sharp teeth.Obviously this line  which is named after a Lion's Jaws is sharp. No pun intended just saying.
 

An if you decide to not listen to me than Oh well I warned you. You are not going to put that loss on me. I was completely against beginners playing it from the beginning. I only showed it to be very thorough. Obviously a Hippo Defence player is going to only play there line when they think it is favorable to them. If they don't think it is they will transpose into something esle they enjoy playing.

Yes, of course it's a matter of opinion. Of course there are 1...g6 players who not only like the KID but also know the necessary amount of theory - the higher the level, the more you will find.

But it's still rare. The KID is extremely theoretical, while e.g. conaisseurs of the a6-Modern often get into unknown territory very quickly.

Anyway: White players who like to play against the KID won't go wrong with the same setup against 1...g6. These players are not likely to see many Hippo setups.

Yeah I love the KID. I have played it since I started chess. It was my first opening against 1.d4 An it still remains as one of my line choices.

I have expanded into the Gruenfeld as well.

I have come to favor both lines now. However, I do not know the Gruenfeld very well yet. I still have not did all the research on it.

I believe my main problem comes from 1.e4 lol.

The Hippo theory is relatively small.  Similar to the "a6" Modern Theory.  Both are universal systems, and "simple."  Sort of.

KID Theory, by contrast, is gigantic.  Buyer Beware.

You can play the Hippo or Modern against anything.  Even with the white pieces.  But against 1) e4, you are "shite out of luck" if you want to use the KID.

Then again, white can always play the KIA, just to trip up your preparation.  Then you can both "bash heads" (in a gigantic theoretical clash) on the king-side of the board.

But in that case, all the above still applies.  

Completely agree.  I am starting to play it and haven't lost a game yet. Most players castle kingside it seems, and I castle queenside...then comes a powerful attack/flank counterattack on their king.

You know, I play 1...b6 in the traditional Owen's Defense style, but often I face the very annoying Bd3 lines.  I have never really been happy with converting the position into a type of French with ...Nf6 and ...d5, so the other day I tested the waters with a couple of Hippos (which I have played from time to time anyway, just never from a 1...b6 move order).  I think I emerged from the opening of both games with a good position that I was satisfied with, and won either 1 or both of them.  

I think most hippo players block the center at first opportunity? Like 10 ..e5?

Letting you setup both d5 and e5 neck and neck seems incorrect for a proper Hippo player, since the whole point is to block the center and thus render white's' central buildup irrelevant, thus opening way to a flank attack. 

e6 is a very weak square in the Hippo. Attack it w/out prejudice....bohemian style.