kylemeister wrote on 11/23/20 at 20:10:45:
Incidentally 8. 0-0-0 b5 was given as "!" in some old ECO/Informant theory, but after 9. e5 Ne8 it only gave 10. f4.
Yeah that
b5 move is given an exclam in just about all sources including Bologan, but chess is undergoing a rapid renaissance due to the rise of neural network engines and the like, forcing chess players to re-examine long held evaluations and assessments. To be honest as a diehard KID player myself I really wanted to make that a6, Nbd7 and b5 line work, it would have simplified my life
but alas no such luck, a sample line goes:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nbd7 8.0-0-0 b5 9.e5 Ne8 10.h4!? b4!? 11.Ne4 c5 12.h5 cxd4 13.Bxd4 dxe5 14.Be3!? [Route 1 chess, I had to Force Stockfish to focus on this, for some reason it was infatuated by the stupid and illogical 14.Bc5 when for a human it is clear to see this is a play for mate position]
14...Qa5 15.hxg6 hxg6 [15...Qxa2 16.gxf7+ Rxf7 17.Qxb4±] 16.Bh6 Qxa2 17.Bxg7 Qa1+ 18.Kc2 Qa4+ [Stockfish didn't want to analyse any further calling it a draw by perpetual check, so I forced it to do some more work]
19.Kb1! Nxg7 20.Be2! now the real analysis begins, it was around about here that I decided I wanted no part of this as Black even if he can find a draw somewhere with perfect play.
There is one last glimmer of hope for Black players wanting to use this a6, Nbd7 setup and it goes:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nbd7 8.0-0-0 c6!? There are not many practical test here, but Black seems to have more resources than after
8...b5, primarily because
9.e5 is not as killing, Black will follow up with a quick Qa5 only then b5 and hope for the best. This fresh line represents his best chance at generating sufficient counterplay, only time will tell.