Fianchetto Openings

[Andrew Smith]

It strikes me as interesting, a player's attitude to fianchettoing Bishops. It's often completely different attitude when they are with the White pieces to when they are Black. I am thinking of changing my long established openings and it made me think. Without any statistics, i have an impression of some of UK top players :
Adams : As White, he doesnt usually, except against particular variations of Open Sicilian when he sometimes plays g3.
With Black, he never plays Kings Indian but often plays Queens Indian.
Short : Doesn't generally as White, likes Queens Indian but don't recall him playing Kings Indian.
Nunn : Doesn't as White, but always plays Kings Indian but not Queens Indian.
Speelman : Regularly does fianchettos on both sides of the board with both colours !
Arkell : With White, always on kingside, With Black, seems to fianchetto on kingside more than he used to. I think he used to play the Nimzo.
Howell : I think he fianchettos a lot with both colours.
Jones : With White, generally no, but with Black, often on the kingside but not queenside.
Hebden : Not with White, but always plays Kings Indian but never Queens Indian.
McShane : No idea what he generally does!

No particular reason why I chose these players - they just sprung into my mind.

I wonder why attitudes towards fianchettos are so different when either White or Black ?!

[Nick Ivell]

In very general terms, the more classical players tend to eschew the fianchetto, especially on the K-side with Black. For example, I don't recall Karpov doing this often.