Mei Chen: Level 24 Chess Rival (1703 ELO)

Knight tier · Sicilian Devotee · plays the King's Indian Defense

• Level: 24 of 100
• Tier: Knight
• Rating: 1703 ELO
• Opening: King's Indian Defense
• Style: Sicilian Devotee
• From: Poland
• Age: 53
• Plays: Black (you have White)

How Mei plays

Mei teaches mathematics in Kraków and spent most of her chess life playing the Sicilian against 1.e4. Against 1.d4 she carries the same philosophy into the King's Indian: asymmetry, counterplay and a willingness to give White the centre if it means having something to attack. To her the KID is the Sicilian spirit moved to the queen's pawn openings, and she plays it with conviction.

She is most comfortable when the two sides want opposite things, with the centre locked and play on both wings. Symmetry and simplification are what she likes least, and she would rather take a small risk than accept a sterile draw. At 1703 Mei is in the range where outright blunders are rare. You will not win by waiting for a hanging piece. You win by making her counterplay arrive a move too late, or by choosing a line where her love of imbalance has no outlet.

At 1703 ELO, Mei rarely gives material away for nothing. She is held to that rating by the engine, so you will see the occasional inaccuracy in quiet positions, but tactics are usually spotted. Games are won by building a better position over many moves and converting it carefully.

King's Indian Defense: the line Mei plays

Mei plays the King's Indian Defense: ...Nf6, ...g6, ...Bg7, ...d6 and castling, letting White build a big centre and then striking at it with ...e5. In the main Mar del Plata line the centre closes after d5 and both sides attack on opposite wings, Black with ...f5 on the kingside.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Nd3 f5

• 2...g6: ...g6 prepares the fianchetto. Black lets you take the centre.
• 5...O-O: Castled already: the KID king tucks away before the fight starts.
• 6...e5: ...e5 is the key break, hitting your d4 pawn.
• 10...f5: ...f5 starts the kingside attack. You need to be faster on the queenside.

Learn it move by move: King's Indian Defense walkthrough

How to beat Mei

1. Consider the Fianchetto setup with g3 and Bg2. It tones down the opposite-wing races she enjoys and asks her to find counterplay in a calmer structure where her imbalances have less fuel.
2. If the centre closes after d5, reroute a knight to d3 via e1. From d3 it supports c5 and covers f4, slowing her ...f5-f4 push while still helping your queenside play.
3. Leave the pawns in front of your king alone until you have a clear reason to move them. Her attack depends on prying files open, and an early g4 or h3 hands her a hook to aim at.
4. If the centre locks with d5, play on the queenside where you are stronger: b4, c5 and a rook to the c-file. Do it quickly, because their ...f5-f4 and ...g5 attack is aimed at your king. Against the KID, being a tempo slow is how White loses.
5. The book answers 1.d4 (and the Modern move order 1...g6). Open 1.e4 and she is out of book immediately.

What beating Mei teaches you

Mei teaches you to handle an opponent who thrives on imbalance: win the race on your side of the board and defuse her counterplay with prophylactic piece placement.

Neighbours on the ladder

• Nikolai Roux: level 23
• Henrik Kowalski: level 25