Nice to see this thread pop up and take a trip down memory lane. Mark is sorely missed around here, I opine! 

kylemeister - Thanks for pointing out that upcoming book, PCO: Practical Chess Openings. Gambit hasn't published much in recent years, so I've fallen out of the habit of occasionally checking their website for any new books that are in the works.  It's an interesting coincidence that PCO and NCO have the same page count, but as you surmised, the preview for PCO suggests it's quite different and lacks the tabular format of NCO. At any rate, PCO seems worthwhile. There are all sorts of bits and pieces scattered about online indicating what lines have become fashionable. It definitely would be useful to have this information summarized in one place.

FreeRepublic wrote on 05/09/25 at 15:27:04:

9...Nh5 is the favorite by far in the literature that I've considered. Kotronias devotes a volume to 9b4 Nh5 and the related 9Nd2. More recently, Pavlovic published a volume on the Mar Del Plata that includes four chapters on 9b4 Nh5. Collins goes with 9...Ne8. Bologan covers 9...Nh5, 9...a5, and 9...c6. Of course ChessPublishing has many annotated games proceeding from 9b4, by my count 262 games and lines. I recall other published theory on 9...a5.

This seems to be the very heart of the King's Indian Defense, with many games and analysis. It's no wonder that both players often look to sidestep 9b4, and there are many ways to do so.

9...Ne8 and 9...Nd2 appear obvious to anyone who is already familiar with 9Ne1 lines. The engine does not approve, but that has not stopped Nakamara from garnering many scalps from strong players.

9...Nh5 takes advantage of the fact that White has not covered the h5 square, unlike 9Ne1 or 9Nd2. Immense theory here.

I recall seeing theoretical articles recommending 9...a5. It attempts to prick White's balloon (pawn chain) before White is fully prepared. 9...a5 comes after 9...Nh5 in popularity.

9...c6 increases the central tension. I don't understand 9...Kh8.

My preference would be to play this in (very) old fashioned postal chess, before computer engines became relevant. I don't see how that is possible today. For over the board games, I think it's likely that neither player will be fully conversant with theory. Theory consists both of moves and ideas. The ideas can re-occur in novel ways.

Thanks Tony Ro, it seems that Mr. Stellwagen solved my problem with the g3-line in the Bajonett when he played 24. ... Qf3!  


[Event "3rd NH Chess Tournament"]
[Site "Amsterdam NED"]
[Date "2009.08.30"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Van Wely, L."]
[Black "Stellwagen, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E97"]
[WhiteElo "2655"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2009.08.20"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "10"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2009.08.31"]

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. b4 Nh5 10. g3 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. f3 f4 13. b5 fxg3 14. hxg3 h6 15. Ne6
Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qc8 17. Nd5 Qxe6 18. Nxc7 Qh3 19. Rf2 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Rxf2 21. Kxf2
Rf8+ 22. Ke3 Qxg3+ 23. Kd2 Rf2 24. Ne8 Qf3 25. Nxd6 Bf6 26. c5 Nd5 27. exd5 e4
28. Ke1 Qg2 29. Kd2 Bxa1 30. c6 Qf3 31. Nxe4 Qxe4 32. c7 Qf4+ 33. Ke1 Bc3+ 34.
Bd2 Qg3 35. Bxc3 Rf3+ 36. Kd2 Rxc3 37. d6 Qe3+ 38. Ke1 Rc1 39. Qxc1 Qxc1+ 40.
Kf2 Qc5+ 41. Kf3 Kf7 42. Bf1 Qf5+ 43. Kg3 Qe6 44. Kf2 h5 45. a4 Kf6 46. Bg2 Qc8
47. Kg3 g5 0-1

TonyRo wrote on 08/06/09 at 00:51:30:


By all means.

PatzerKing wrote on 08/05/09 at 22:27:29:

I don't see many problems for Black: He puts his bishop on e5 and follows with g6-g5 and Ng6 (of course all only if possible). Either 20.Rc1 or first the bishop check does not alter much (perhaps the king is even safer on h8 after the bishop check). Black may sometimes even follow up with g5-g4!? and the initiative. If White counters this idea with h4 Black may sometimes have Qd7 with counterplay.

Using comps within the Kings Indian is mostly useless - just ask them how they evaluate the position after: 1. d4 Sf6 2. c4 g6 3. Sc3 Lg7 4. e4 d6 5. Sf3 0-0 6. Le2 e5 7. 0-0 Sc6 8. d5 Se7 - I think +0.8 for White 

Yes, I think it's pretty clear that that variation is definitely at least a little bit better for White. Deep Rybka 3 x64 calls it += after a couple of minutes, but if there's one thing I noticed about Rybka is that it's a little bit more conservative in it's variations. 

I don't think I'd give up 7...Nc6 because the author of some book gives some variation that's good for White. There are plenty of deviations before the end of that one, so do a little HW! I've never seen this variation in the entirety of my KID career, so I don't think you should worry too much. 

Bologan gives quite a few of these "copy and paste / don't check" game quotes in sidelines. The best thing to do is to check them yourself. 

-Tony

PS - 8 3.0 GHz processors is pretty "bitchin" . I'm thinking about upgrading to a desktop soon for some souped up analysis / CC Help. Can I message you a couple of months down the road if I have any hardware questions?

I recently reviewed this chapter pretty thoroughly, and decided that 13...a5!? is better if you're going to play 12...c6, and the crazy looking 24...d5!?N is better if you're going to play 12...f4.