Hi, I've often thought I didn't know the theory to well in the Bayonet, but I'm thinking now that I don't know how to play it very well.

On the queenside, I think I know how to break through after the ..a5/Ba3/axb4/Bxb4 setup, by meeting any ..b6 with a4/a5.

But when black keeps the pawns back on a7-b7-c7 I think that I swap with cxd6 far too early. In fact I nearly do this straight away to then gang up in d6. This doesn't always work too well. Having seen a4 feature prominently in a few lines (something I wouldn't think of) I realize I'm missing some key ideas. a4/b5/a5/b6 seems such a plan.
Are some of these ideas played without c5.

What I wondered about was if there was any rule of thumb on attacking on the queenside. Ie, when to take on d6; when to push the a pawn; when to go for b6... and such?
Is it possible to breakdown the correct plan to a give structure, without having to learn the theory and variations?

I'm hoping the answer is yes!

eg; in the Bayonet. after the response 9..Nd7 (I get this a bit at club level) I'm interested in the idea 10.a4 (instead of 10.Nd2/11.c5) but I'm not sure of the plans.

Cheers,
tickly.

P.S. Or any book suggestions that explain this stuff (rather than just variations)?