Part 2 Bayonet Attack: Experience Matters

                There were some comments inquiring why b4 is better than the normal Ne1 or Nd2. I am not saying it is better or worse, it is an alternative and time will show how good it is. Positionally, it makes perfect sense: white gets space where she intends to play, preparing the planned c5 and allowing Bb2. I don’t see why Ne1-Nd3, two moves with a piece with the similar idea of c5 should be better? Generally, white does not rush with c5 because this will allow black’s play on the kingside. In the following game, in annotations there area  few lines that show this. So, as I promised, here is Bologan’s recommendation on Black’s play and my comments to it. The book he wrote is great; he playedthe  King's Indian all his life – and is a major authority on it. It is just hard to cover every single line and have it deeply enough covered, having limited space.

                The next game shows one interesting alternative I would suggest for Black to try. I am not sure how great it is but it is certainly fresh. Black is so used to moving pawns h6 or c6, which are logical moves, that other moves usually do not come to mind. I always think of Kh8 being useful and a good way to step out of theoretical discussions.

               This concludes my two articles on the King’s Indian Bayonet variation. I prefer playing on the white side this of particular line. On the other hand, if white plays f3 instead of Bf3 I like to play on the Black side. This is a matter of personal preference, of course. The lesson here I guess is that one has to be critical when absorbing chess material, like in the recommended line I right away felt suspicious. This is so because I have played numerous games in this line, therefore personal experience dictated what I felt. If it was any other line, maybe, I would not have those feelings and go with what is written, which in most cases is what happens.

Next week I will reveal the new general topic for my column!