King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit (E77)

The Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit is a variation of the King's Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E77. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. e5, reaching the position shown below after 17 half-moves.

Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d5), and two pawn captures are available, so the structure is still fluid. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move after nine moves. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.

On the King's Indian Defense generally: A hypermodern defense where Black allows White to build a big center, then counterattacks it.

You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.

Position characteristics

• Black material edge
• Contested centre
• High pawn tension
• Doubled pawns

Related King's Indian Defense lines

• Four Pawns Attack
• Four Pawns Attack, Dynamic Attack
• Four Pawns Attack, Modern Defense
• Four Pawns Attack
• Four Pawns Attack, Normal Attack
• Six Pawns Attack
• Four Pawns Attack, Fluid Attack
• Four Pawns Attack, Exchange Variation
• Semi-Classical Variation, Benoni Variation
• Semi-Classical Variation, Hollywood Variation
• Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense
• Semi-Classical Variation

See all 112 King's Indian Defense variations →

Frequently asked questions

What are the moves of the Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit?

The Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. e5. It is a variation of the King's Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E77.

What is the ECO code for the Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit?

The Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit is ECO E77. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the King's Indian Defense.

Is the Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit good for White?

Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. e5 at -0.74 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for Black. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.

What kind of position does the Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit lead to?

Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on e5, Black on d5), and two pawn captures are available, so the structure is still fluid. Development is level at three minor pieces each, and Black is up a pawn of material. It is Black to move. Black has castled while White’s king is still uncommitted; Black has doubled pawns on the d-file.