TonyRo wrote on 06/16/09 at 18:36:22:


14. Ba3 (! is given in OFWAK)

White can elect 17. a4 and continue as given in OFWAK (admittedly after a ridiculous amount of analysis to consume), or 17. Kh1 which has been the favorite of late amongst white players 2500+.

TonyRo wrote on 06/16/09 at 16:55:42:


White gets things he's not supposed to get, and to that end if this were objectively black's best variation then every white player in the world would immediately take up the Bayonet. And yes - as someone that has played the white side of the KID 9. Nd2 for years now, I can definitively say it is easier than the the main line.

The statistics just show black has practical chances. The theoretical stance of 9...Ne8 isn't as good as its performance, a lot of its success coming from the surprise value the move has since white spends more time prepping the more critical variations.

9. Nd2 is = after 9...a5 (assuming the ...Bd7 lines are chosen). There's a reason that move is the preference among GMs, and not 9...Ne8 which transposes to 9. b4 Ne8 anyway. You would think if it were all that great 9...Ne8 would be the universal answer to both 9. b4 and 9. Nd2, instead of 9...Nh5 and 9...a5, respectively.

9...Ne8 is great for showing thematic KID play, but there's a reason it has never been considered the correct response after either 9. Nd2 or 9. b4. If it were the most testing response it would've been made the main line a long time ago with numerous games at the super-GM level.

White should be very happy to see 9. b4 Ne8, even if black has some practical chances.

TonyRo wrote on 06/16/09 at 15:10:43:


11. Nd2 is perfectly fine and correct. There's no reason to steer that towards "normal" Bayonet lines. White is playing an easier variation of 9. Nd2 than he'd otherwise get, so there's no reason to fear it.

If white has low tolerance for the lines which are better for him, but give black some practical chances, then he shouldn't even be playing the Bayonet. Black will always have practical chances regardless of variation.

Markovich wrote on 06/01/09 at 12:28:27:

You're not the first one who says this. But next time I teach my students this I will say: á la markovich. On the other hand, shouldn't you be able to win these games also? If you can't win with your regular repetoire against much weaker players, how can you against stronger players?

Smyslov_Fan wrote on 06/15/09 at 17:34:34:

Then you should play 1.a3. No clearcut plan for black and the position is fluid

(Markovich "Doctine"?)

I'm going to defend the Mar Del Plata variation for White against lower rated players.  The Mar del Plata Variation has become increasingly subtle over time.  If you had made this statement in the early 1980s, I probably would have agreed with you, but now Black needs to know where to place his pieces, and how to keep the light squared Bishop active.  

Meanwhile, White has several different plans with subtly distinct piece placements.  For instance, the Ne1, Nd2, and the Bayonet lines are quite different beasts.

Beyond that, I have played several lower rated players who trade down their heavy pieces and light squared bishop thinking the game would be at least equal.  They then discover to their dismay that, by sheer luck, White finds some winning plan.  It must seem like luck to these players because I have used the same idea to beat the same opponents repeatedly.  Some of these are +2000 USCF.

In fact, the very reputation of the Mar Del Plata means helps the stronger player in that once Black's attacking resources are dried up, Black often flounders about like .... ummm ... a flounder on a pier.

Having said all that, I agree with Markovich's Doctrine that The superior player should seek positions that are fluid and don't rely on rote play. I apply it (perhaps erroneously) to the white side of the Benko in much the same way that Yermolinsky writes about in his Road to Chess Improvement.

Yeah, agreed. The Mar Del Plata would actually be a great variation for either side to play in CC. If you're Black and you know how to play, you can find many improvements over computer analysis, and as White if you know how to play, you can hope your opponent plays like a computer!