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King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack

ECO code
E76
Moves
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About this variation

White builds a huge center with c4, d4, e4 and f4. Black has to strike back quickly before the pawns roll forward.

The Four Pawns Attack is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4. White puts pawns on c4, d4, e4 and f4, the most ambitious possible center, and threatens to push e5 and gain even more space. It was popular in the early twentieth century and is still used as a direct way to punish Black's slow development.

Black has to strike back quickly. The main line is 5...O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6, attacking the center from the side and opening the e-file. After 8. Be2 exd5 9. cxd5 the structure resembles the Modern Benoni, but White's pawn on f4 makes e4-e5 a constant threat, so the position is very sharp. Black's counterplay comes from ...b5, ...Re8 and pressure on e4.

White's plans include the e5 break, opening lines towards Black's king, and a kingside attack with f5 in some lines. Because White's pawns are so advanced, they can also become targets: if Black manages to block them and attack the base, White's center can collapse. Accurate move orders are essential for both sides.

The Four Pawns Attack suits White players who like aggressive, space-gaining openings and are ready to calculate. Black players should know the main ...c5 line well, since natural development without a quick central strike can leave Black squeezed.

Black players should prepare at least one main line against the Four Pawns, because natural moves can lose quickly if White's e5 push arrives with tempo. White players need to remember that the big center is also a target; if the attack stalls, the pawns on e4 and f4 can become weak and Black's pieces become very active.

It is one of the main lines of the King's Indian Defense.

King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack statistics

The King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack was reached in 19,512 master games (<0.1% of all master games), and White scored 55% from there. On Lichess it comes up in <0.1% of games, most often among players rated 2001–2200 (<0.1%).

Master games

19,512

<0.1% of games between players rated 2500+

Club games on Lichess

118.6K

<0.1% of games between players rated up to 2400

White wins Draws Black wins

How often it comes up, by rating

  • 0–1000 <0.1%
  • 1001–1200 <0.1%
  • 1201–1400 <0.1%
  • 1401–1600 <0.1%
  • 1601–1800 <0.1%
  • 1801–2000 <0.1%
  • 2001–2200 <0.1%
  • 2201–2400 <0.1%

Most common next moves in master games

MoveGamesPlayedResults
5... O-O16,62785%
5... c52,31312%
5... Bg41820.9%
5... e5860.4%
5... c6700.4%

Famous players with the most games here

  • Daniel Naroditsky 154 games
  • Alexandra Botez 70 games
  • Levy Rozman (GothamChess) 26 games
  • Hikaru Nakamura 18 games
  • Chessbrah 10 games
  • Ben Finegold 8 games

Master games from the Chessmont database (CC BY-SA 4.0). Club games from the Lichess open database.

Other King's Indian Defense variations