Any Insight on Na6?

I see the computer play this Na6 move (or something similar on the white side) all the time (see example), or suggest it quite frequently in the analysis.

To me, it mostly just seems like an unnatural and bad move. ...Nc6, perhaps after ...c5, seems much more natural/common sense development.

I understand in the current position that c5 and b4 seem like weak squares, but it also seems like white still has plenty of time to lock down those squares before you can actually place the knight there, and instead you will just end up with a backwards knight. Additionally, it seems unneeded if the plan is an eventual pawn ...c5, as the square isn't well defended anyway.

I've seen this move in a few other grandmaster games too (can't think of any off the top of my head though).

***Does anyone have any tips for when you should actually move your knight to the rim? Or is it just a move you should avoid (ignore the computer) until you are an expert?

Thanks for the help!

Computer plays Na6 because the knight can go on b4 and c5 squares which are weak.

Right, the Knight has more options from a6 than c6. Another thing to keep in mind is that Nc6 would block the c-pawn. In this structure it's useful to put your pawn on c6 to keep White's pieces out of the d5 square.

Its about timing really.  If 11. ... na6, 12. a3 nc5 and by the time white moves the bishop and prepares b4, ne6 will be a lovely square for the knight.  The knight won't get trapped out of play on the rim.  

So to answer your question, you need to ask where is it going?  What is it doing there?  What would it be doing somewhere else?

Na6 is a typical move in this pawn structure (no d-pawns, white pawns on c4 & e2/e3/e4, black pawns on e5 & c7/c6). The main reason is that black wants to develop this knight, and it has nowhere better to go. Nc6 is not appealing because black wants his c-pawn on c6 to keep off the c3-knight.

Compared to Nbd7, which blocks the LSB, Na6 offers more options as to the where the knight would go. Nb4 and Nc5 are two possible follow-ups that activate the knight, both of which are possible in the position illustrated above. If white plays aggressively on the queenside (a3, b4, c5, etc) the knight can go to e6 via c7. In short, the knight can be more versatile on the rim (a6) than in the centre (d7).

Black doesn't play Na6 because he thinks a6 is a great square for the knight. He has plans for that knight, And he also has plans for his c-pawn. Moving a piece to a square does not imply a sacred pledge to keep it on that square for ever

This Na6 move is a common motif in some variations of a Dutch Leningrad and in a sharp line in the Exchange QGD. In those variations the knight can't exactly go to c6 and even if it did it would not be doing a lot. A move is good or bad according to what your plan is. There are literally tons of games where the knight goes to h6 or a6. So it is not a mandatory that a knight on the rim must be dim.

" So it is not a mandatory that a knight on the rim must be dim."

It's not even mandatory that a knight on the rim must remain on the rim! No one is gluing the knight to the a6 square