...Nbd7 is main line vs the Fianchetto but ...Nc6 is more popular vs the Classical. So one might argue that the Classical vs the Old-Indian takes benefit from Black's early ...Nbd7.
If White plays the Fianchetto vs the OID it's logical to do the same vs the KID. And Markovich prefers the Four Pawns.
If White plays the Classical vs the OID (s)he avoids the hot ...Nc6 stuff might Black transpose to the KID.
kylemeister wrote on 01/22/09 at 04:08:48:
In the line of your first paragraph, your move order seems unusual, but in any case the way all sources I know of "want" White to play is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Nge2 Be7 6. f3 c6 7. Be3 0-0 8. d5. If 8...a5 there, ECO and Taimanov (Königsindisch bis Altindisch) like 9. g4 as in Marjanovic-Maranguinic, Bled/Portoroz 1979.
Thanks, I had missed this game. Once again is clear how valuable Taimanov's golden oldies are. I had the chance to buy this one 25 years ago, but foolishly thought I would never need it.
Black might not play 11...Ne8 as Maranguinic did, but 11...a4. This will transpose to Zhu Chen-Dumitrache, Cappelle 1998, where 18...a3 looks very interesting.