King's Indian: Mar del Plata, Bayonet 9...Nh5 c6

King's Indian Defence: Mar del Plata Variation

Definition

The Mar del Plata Variation is the most combative branch of the Classical System of the King’s Indian Defence (KID). It usually arises after the moves:

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. Ne1 (or 9.Nd2)

The position was analysed in depth at a 1953 tournament in Mar del Plata, Argentina, giving the variation its name.

Strategic Themes

• Opposite-flank attacks: Black thrusts ...f7–f5 and often ...g6–g5, storming the kingside. White advances on the queenside with c4-c5, b2-b4, and c5-c6.
• Locked centre: After d4-d5 and ...e7-e5, the pawn chain fixes the centre, making flank play decisive.
• Piece placement: Knights often reach d3/f3 for White and f4/h5 for Black; both sides manoeuvre behind their pawn chains before the pawn storms break.

Historical Significance

Mar del Plata battles lit up many World Championship encounters, notably between Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov in 1984-85, cementing the line as the main testing ground of the KID.

Illustrative Game

Karpov – Kasparov, World Championship (Game 16), Moscow 1985.
Kasparov unleashed a thematic ...f5-f4 pawn break and eventually forced capitulation on the kingside while White’s queenside play lagged.

Interesting Facts

• Engines once thought Black’s king “suicidal,” yet practical results show the line is fully playable; top grandmasters still employ it when they need decisive games.
• Because plans are so thoroughly mapped out, some elite players purposely avoid the Mar del Plata by choosing the h3-g4 Anti-Mar del Plata system or the quieter Averbakh Variation.

King's Indian Defence: Bayonet Attack

Definition

The Bayonet Attack is White’s sharp reply to the Classical KID beginning with the pawn thrust 9. b4!?. A typical move order is:

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

Strategic Ideas

1. Pawn wedge on b5: White gains queenside space, prepares c4-c5, and restricts Black’s knight on c6.
2. Delayed manoeuvring: White sidelines the traditional Nd2-c4 plan, opting for direct expansion.
3. Black’s counterplay: Black reacts with ...a5, ...Nh5, and ...f7-f5, trying to shred White’s centre before the queenside breaks crash through.

Example Game

Kasparov – Shirov, Linares 1994.
In a dramatic struggle, White’s queenside pawns marched to b6 and c6, forcing decisive weaknesses around Black’s king.

Why “Bayonet”?

Grandmaster John Nunn coined the term, comparing the b-pawn thrust to “sticking a bayonet” into Black’s position before hostilities fully commence.

Trivia

• After “Kasparov’s Revival” in the 1990s, the Bayonet became the main line, forcing theory to move forward by dozens of moves.
• Modern engines give a slight edge to White, yet the line remains double-edged and is still a favourite weapon of attacking KID specialists like Teimour Radjabov.

King's Indian Defence: 9…Nh5 10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.Bf3 c6 (Petrosian–Shirov Line)

Definition & Move Order

This concrete sequence occurs in the Classical/Petrosian system of the KID. Typical starting path:

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. Ne1 Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11. Ng5 Nf6 12. Bf3 c6

Here Black drives his f-pawn forward early, while White reroutes the knight to exploit kingside holes and places the bishop on f3 to eye h5 and e4.

Strategic Features

• Early …Nh5: Removes the defender of d6 (the f6-knight) from pin lines and prepares …f5 without allowing g2-g4.
• White’s Ng5 jump: Targets e6, f7, and h7 while Black’s pieces are temporarily uncoordinated.
• …c6 break: Black undermines the d5-pawn, aiming to liberate the dark-squared bishop and blunt White’s space advantage.

Model Game

Kramnik – Shirov, Dortmund 1998
Shirov demonstrated the resilience of Black’s setup, equalising after precise central counterplay.

Historical & Practical Notes

• Tigran Petrosian popularised the early Ne1–Re1 plan to blunt Black’s kingside assault, yet modern engines suggest Black can equalise with timely central breaks such as …c6.
• The line is a favourite surprise weapon because many White players focus preparation on the main Mar del Plata (…a5 or …f5 without …Nh5).
• Despite its solidity, the variation still contains tactical pitfalls; misplacing the queen can lead to the spectacular sacrifice 13…h6 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 fxe4!!

Fun Fact

Some grandmasters nickname …Nh5 the “mosquito jump” because it irritates White’s g3-square and dark-square complexes before buzzing back to f6.