The Makogonov Solution: Jobava and Stella Complete the King's Indian Arsenal
For decades, the 5.h3 Makogonov Variation has been White's most flexible answer to the King's Indian Defense. Where the Saemisch promises sharp tactical battles and the Four Pawns Attack threatens immediate overwhelm, 5.h3 takes a different approach: control the light squares, keep options open, and delay structural commitments until Black's setup becomes clear.
It's no accident that Carlsen, Caruana, and Giri reach for this system when they need to squeeze without overextending. But there's a paradox here. The same flexibility that makes 5.h3 dangerous for Black also makes it vulnerable to precise preparation. If Black knows exactly where the pressure points are, the extra tempo h3 can become a liability rather than a strength.
That's the insight driving King's Indian Defense: Repertoire for Black - Part 3 by GM Baadur Jobava and GM Andrea Stella.
This Course Keeps Building Your Repertoire
This is the volume in Jobava and Stella's systematic coverage of the King's Indian Defense. Part 1 handled 5.Nf3 and the Four Pawns Attack; Part 2 dismantled the Saemisch 5.f3. Now they tackle the most subtle and arguably most critical test: the Makogonov 5.h3 and its constellation of different setups.
The course isn't built around memorizing computer lines. Instead, Jobava and Stella give you a framework—clear structural plans that work across White's many possible deployments of the dark-squared bishop. Against 6.Bg5, you strike with ...c5 Benoni-style, exploiting the fact that White's h3 isn't contributing to the center. Against 6.Be3, you meet it with the flexible ...c6 and ...Na6, preparing both ...e5 breaks and queenside expansion with ...b5. And against the main 6.Nf3 e5 7.d5, you play the rare and aggressive 7...Nh5, claiming kingside space immediately with ...f5.
The real edge comes from the surprise factor. Several of the recommended lines—like the almost unprecedented 6.Nge2 a5!? or the rare 8.Nh2 c6—have been played fewer than ten times in master practice. You're not just prepared; you're off the database by move eight, with a sound position and clear plans. That's a massive psychological advantage against opponents who rely on pattern recognition and established theory.
Variation Map: The Makogonov Battleground
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 O-O, White has three main approaches:
- The Immediate 6.Bg5
- 6...c5 (Benoni strike)
- 7.d5 e6 8.Bd3 exd5 9.exd5 → Chapter 1
- 7.d5 e6 8.Bd3 exd5 9.cxd5 → Chapter 2
- 7.d5 e6 8.Bd3 exd5 9.Nf3 → Chapter 3
- The Classical Development: 6.Nf3
- 6...e5 7.d5 Nh5 (kingside counterplay)
- 8.g3 f5 → Chapter 4 (main line)
- 8.Nh2 c6 (rare surprise) → Chapter 5
- 8.Be3 and other 8th-move tries → Chapter 7
- 7.dxe5 and 7.Be3 → Chapter 6
III. The Quiet Build-Up: 6.Be3
- 6...c6 (flexible setup with ...Na6, ...e5, and ...b5 ideas)
- 7.g4 → Chapter 8
- 7.Nf3 → Chapter 9
- 7.Qd2 and other sidelines → Chapter 10
- Rare but Tricky: 6.Nge2, 6.g4, 6.f4, 6.Bd3
- 6.Nge2 a5!? (almost unknown antidote) → Chapter 11
What's Inside
- 11 Chapters covering every significant White setup after 5.h3
- 20 test positions to sharpen your tactical vision and technique
- Memory Booster for efficient recall of key ideas
- To Go Version of every chapter for quick study
- Video instruction explaining the critical concepts
- Multilingual PGN availability (English, German, French, Spanish)
Your Move
If you've already worked through Parts 1 and 2, this course is the natural completion of your King's Indian repertoire. If you're starting fresh, all three volumes form a unified, battle-tested system that will serve you for years. The Makogonov has been a fortress for White long enough. Time to show them that 5.h3 isn't a wall—it's a missing tempo.