John,

That would certainly be an option - and a solid one indeed.

But I guess not what a 7.-,Qe8 player is looking for. White has tricked him into another leningrad main variation - which he normally dont play.

another question related the choice betwee 8-,Na6 / a5 :

What does an -,"a5 player" play in the following posistion (several move orders is possible)?

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 Bg7 5.Nc3 d6 6.d5!?
Blacks problem is that he does not know whether white wants to play mainlaine with Nf3 og Karlsbad with Nh3.

My first gut feeling is that 6.-, 0-0 may be too early - as white may now attack the black king with the h-pawn.

A "Na6 player" would obviously play Na6 here.

This position is btw not adressed by Kinderman.

Just wanted to post a follow up about the latest development.

As discussed earlier, White followed up with 13. ... Ne6 in the line below, which is also what Kindermann was discussing in the English version of his book.
 
1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. 0-0 0-0 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. d5 Na6 9. Rb1 c6 10. dxc6 bxc6 11. b4 Bd7 12. a3 Nc7 13. Bb2


The game Iljin - Gurevich from the recently finished European championship showed that 13. ... Rb8 is a viable alternative. Have a look at the April/07 update by Glenn Flear which had some interesting analysis.

Let's discuss the best moves after :
A : 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 Qe8 8.d5 Na6
and
B : 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 Qe8 8.d5 a5
in game A in theorical books white plays 9.Rb1, 9.Nd4 or 9.Be3
in game B 9.Rb1,9.Nd4,9.Be3 and also 9.e4 9.Bd2 9.Ne1
Maybe if someone has a GM database we can pick the more efficient move in both lines ?

a5 followed by Nbd7!

parisestmagique wrote on 02/21/07 at 15:54:28:

Kindermann gives this position as equal. Black follows with Kh8 and then 21. Bf4 - a4 (Bd7 is too passive) 22. Bc6 - Bd7 23. Bd5 - Qf6 24. b4 - a3 with the idea of Qb2.
It is right that 9. Nd4 gives (very) good perspectives to white but with active play black can avoid many problems.

I think Kindermann's ...d5 idea is ok.  The position is playable but I'll admit black's probably a little bit worse.

Further to my previous point: from all my sources I know of 7 games (Kindermann's one doesn't seem to be on the bases) that have reached the position after 14.c5 and 2 that featured 14...d5.  So if you are unlikely enough to meet someone who does actually know this and playes down it bear the following in mind:

1) They are very well prepared in a relatively unusual defence.  Be glad you didn't play the KID
2) Someone that well prepared is likely to be a very decent player.
3) They are unlikely to know of ...d5 unless they have Kindermann's english edition (or read here and have taken note)
4) You'll automatically become one of the leading experts on this key position in the Leningrad because so few people have actually played it 
5) For all white's prep he's only managed to reach a relatively unclear and obscure position where you may be ahead in analysis.

So I don't think it's something to worry about if you happy with the rest.

Also I realised I didn't quite answer your questions properly: but I think both 8...a5 and 8...Na6 are about the same - 8...a5 is safer and you are less likely to be blown away but I also think that white is under less pressure and can get a reasonable game by making sensible moves.  8...Na6 puts him under more pressure.

But if you don't have much study time I'd suggest looking closer at 7...c6 since white's choices are more restricted.  8.d5 e5 (or you can try to transpose to 7...Qe8 8.d5 Na6) leads to positions where understanding is more important, 8.b3 is probably the most natural if you've never looked at the position before but 8...Qa5 is just very nice for black and I don't think the others really challenge (8.Re1 Nh5!? seems ok).

I've only had the position after 7...Qe8 twice OTB and both opponents played 8.Re1