Blumenfeld Gambit Bibliography

The Blumenfeld Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5!?) was invented by the lawyer, chess master, and opening theorist Benjamin Markovich Blumenfeld (24 May 1884 – 5 March 1947), who analyzed the line but appears not to have played it himself -- at least not in any published games.  It is a very creative and challenging line where Black immediately contests White's central pawn formation, seeking to gain a preponderance of pawns in the center if White accepts the gambit by 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5, as seen in the stem game, Tarrasch – Alekhine, Bad Pistyan, 1922.  White should decline the gambit with 5.Bg5! or 5.e4, leading to complex play, as Alekhine himself noted in his Best Games.

The gambit often arises via a Benoni move order (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5), and a logical repertoire combines it with the Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5) and Vaganian Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d5 6.cxd5 Bc5), using the Blumenfeld to meet an early Nf3.  This repertoire is presented in Boris Alterman's  The Alterman Gambit Guide: Black Gambits 1 (2011) and Valery Aveskulov's Attack with Black (2012), and either book would make a great starting point for your studies.  The line can also be reached via the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5, as played by Liviu Dieter Nisipeanu, who combines it with the Nimzo-Indian (3.Nc3 Bb4) to complete his repertoire.  

Over the years, the gambit has attracted many strong players, including Rudolf Spielmann (an early adopter in Vukovic - Spielmann, Vienna 1922), Saviely Tartakower (Rubinstein - Tartakower, Teplitz-Schonau 1922), Ljubomir Ljubojevic (Vukic - Ljubojevic, Umag 1974), Ian Rogers (Portisch - Rogers, Reggio Emilia 1984), Lev Alburt (Miles - Alburt, Philadelphia 1989),  Nisipeanu (Georgiev - Nisipeanu, Feugen 2006), Mackenzie Molner (Shankland - Molner, Copper State 2010), Francisco Vallejo Pons (Korchnoi - Vallejo Pons, Gibralter 2011), and Marya Muzychuk (Khotenashvili - Muzychuk, European Team 2013).  Other games can be found at 365Chess, Chessgames, and ChessTempo; game collections at 98_E10_Blumenfelder Gegenmaßnahmen by whiteshark and Blumenfeld counter gambit by FICSwoodpusher; and Puzzles from the Blumenfeld Counter Gambit (ECO E10) at W.T. Harvey's site.

I have tried to include all of the important videos and literature in the following bibliography.  As always, I invite additions and corrections from readers in the comments section below.

Bibliography

The Blumenfeld Gambit: A Sharp Weapon in the Benoni by Andrew Martin (ChessBase DVD 2017)

Opening Survey: The Nikolayev Gambit by Igor Nikolayev, Life in Zugzwang blog (2014)
Discusses the original Blumenfeld-related line 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 e6 6.Nc3 exd5 7.Nxd5 Nxa6!? - with some notes on the Blumenfeld along the way.

Attack with Black by Valery Aveskulov, Gambit (2012): 42-64.  PDF sample.
A truly excellent presentation, mapping much the same territory explored by Boris Alterman (see below), covering the Benko, Blumenfeld, and Vaganian gambits, with very detailed consideration of White alternatives (such as the Trompowski and Colle, which are frequently seen at the amateur level).  Aveskulov offers a detailed analysis rather than sample games, so his book makes for a good theoretical companion to Alterman's (especially since Aveskulov offers quite a bit of his own original analysis), or a more complete substitute.

We Never Walk Alone, edited by Josip Asik: Queen's Pawn Game [E10] Blumenfeld Gambit by Aleksander Delchev (2012)
A very useful article on the 5.Bg5 line.  The PDF of the article below.

E10 Blumenfeld Gambit by GM Aleksander Delchev, Informant 112 (2011)
Download the PDF and PGN for $2.99. -- no longer available

The Blumenfeld Gambit [E10] by Abby Marshall at ChessCafe (2011)
Marshall offers a very useful introduction to the gambit, covering the major variations and then analyzing two games, including the classic Tarrasch – Alekhine, Bad Pistyan, 1922.

The Alterman Gambit Guide: Black Gambits 1 by Boris Alterman, Quality
Chess (2011): 141-195.  PDF excerpt.
This book will soon be out of print, so I strongly urge you to get a copy.  You will not be disappointed.  Alterman covers a lot of lines where Black has a quick win that you will often see over the board but not in too many books. Games include Tarrasch – Alekhine, Bad Pistyan, 1922; Kostic - Maroczy, Weston 1922; Garcia Paolicchi - Ibanez, Catalunya 1995; Saemisch - Marco, Bad Pistyan 1922; Hoenlinger - Spielmann, Vienna 1929; Chernin - Miles, Tunis 1985; Sargissian - Nisipeanu, German League 2006; Ivanchuk - Nisipeanu, Khanty-Mansiysk 2007; and Georgiev - Nisipeanu, Fuegen 2006.

 

The Blumenfeld Gambit Part 1: An Attacker's Guide! video by Mackenzie Molner, Chess.com (2011)
A general introduction to the Blumenfeld, concluding with a discussion of Alekhine's classic game with the line.  This excellent series of videos might justify membership to Chess.com.

The Blumenfeld Gambit Part 2: Amazing Example Game video by Mackenzie Molner, Chess.com (2011) 
Examines the game Shankland - Molner, Copper State 2010, which features a wild king hunt.

The Blumenfeld Gambit Part 3: Declining the Beast! video by Mackenzie Molner, Chess.com (2011) 
Concludes with a survey of all Black responses to the critical 5.Bg5 line.




The Fabulous 00s: The Blumenfeld is not Good (This is Not News) by Mark Ginsburg at his blog (2010)
Recommends declining the gambit with 5.Bg5! which is definitely White's best, with some good analysis.

Squeezing the Gambits: the Benko, Budapest, Albin and Blumenfeld by Kiril Georgiev, Chess Stars (2010).  Recommends the annoying 5.Bg5 line vs. the Blumenfeld.  Most of the book is devoted to the Benko declined.

When and When Not to Use Computers 2 video by Mark Ginsburg, Chess.com (2010)
Requires membership and login to view the full video.

Simply Irresistable by Dana Mackenzie video at Chesslecture.com (2010)

Offers a very detailed analysis of Shankland - Molner, Copper State 2010 (47 minutes).  Requires membership.

The Gambit Files by Bill Harvey, Mongoose (2010): 95-101.
Preview some pages from the book and get a sense of how it is set up: a brief introduction followed by tactical puzzles.

"Corus 2010, Group C: Robson Scores With Blumenfeld" by Gary Walters at his blog (2010)

The Blumenfeld Gambit Easily Explained by Andrew Martin Foxy 95 DVD (2009?)
A 2 hour and 20 minute presentation on the opening, in standard DVD format.  Available from various sources.

The Blumenfeld Gambit by Boris Alterman videos at ICC (2009)
Two videos on the Blumenfeld, for members -- Part 1 and Part 2.

Brother of the Benko - The Blumenfeld Gambit Part 1 by AnthonyCG (2009)
I could not locate any subsequent parts.

Dorian Rogozenco, "The Blumenfeld Gambit," Secrets of Opening Surprises #10 (2009): 22-27.  Analyzes the line 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.Bg5 b4!? -- a specialty of GM Lev Alburt and IM Jean-Rene Koch -- as a new antidote to the annoying declined line.  I think the closed nature of the resulting positions (especially after 6.e4 d6 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.h3 e5, which resembles a Czech Benoni) are less dynamic than most Blumenfeld gambiteers would likely prefer.  However, the games offered are certainly encouraging: Chabanon - Koch, France 1998; Lautier - Koch, Besancon 1999; Tregubov - Koch, Belfort 2002; and Zhukova - Kolev, Athens 2008.

Modern Chess: Move by Move by Colin Crouch, Everyman (2009): 119-125.
Crouch analyzes the game Sargissian - Nisipeanu, German League 2006, move-by-move.

Dangerous Weapons: The Benoni and Benko, by Richard Palliser, John Emms, Chris Ward, & Gawain Jones, Everyman Chess (2008)
Features chapters on "Adventures in the Blumenfeld Gambit Accepted" (5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5) and "The Pseudo-Blumenfeld Gambit" (4.Nc3 b5!?).

The Benko's Companion by John Paul Wallace video at Chesslecture.com (2007)

Analyzes Miles - Alburt, Philadelphia 1989.  Requires membership.

A Brilliant Attack by Milan Bjelajac Informant at ChessCafe (2007).  Informant annotations for the best attacks of the year, including the excellent Georgiev - Nisipeanu, Fuegen 2006.

"A Simple and Effective Variation: Blumenfeld Gambit" by Konstantin Landa, New in Chess Yearbook 84 (2007).  Download PGN. 

Blumenfeld Gambit E10 by Mihail Marin ChessBase Magazine #118 (2007)

Covers 1.d4 Nf6 2.c3 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.Bg5 exd5 6.cxd5 and now 6...d6 or 6...h6!?

A Secret Opening Weapon Against 1.d4: Part I, Part II, and Part III videos by Bill Paschall (2006)  An excellent three-part series of online video lectures on the Blumenfeld Gambit, focused on the 5.Bg5! line and discussing the games Rafael Vaganian - Karen Ashotovich Grigorian, USSR 1971; Boris Avrukh - Andrei Volokitin, Greece 2005; Alexander Onischuk vs Ehsan Ghaem Maghami, 36th Olympiad 2004; and Alex Yermolinsky - Larry Christiansen, US Championship 2006.  Requires membership.

Starting Out: Benoni Systems by Alex Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik (2005): 115-134.
This might be a useful book for players new to the Benoni system, but the coverage of the Blumenfeld offer only a general and sketchy overview.  Games discussed include Tarrasch - Alekhine, Pistyan 1922; Chetverik - Csiszar, Budapest 1996; Polugaevsky - Ljubojevic, Manila 1975; Van der Stricht - Ikonnikov, Belgium 2001; and Grabliauskas - Vredenborg, Berlin 1997.

Blumenfeld Gambit E10 by Sergey Anapolsky (1999)

Blumenfeld Gambit by Jerzy Konikowski and Jan Przewoznik, Walter Rau Verlag (1997)

"Blumenfeld Gambit" by Paul Van der Sterren, New in Chess Yearbook 32 (1994)

Trends in the Blumenfeld Gambit by Susan Arkell (1994)
The "trends" series only offered games without special analysis.

The Blumenfeld Gambit by Jan Przewoznik and Malcolm Pein (Pergamon / Cadogan Press 1991)
One of the first books to take the Blumenfeld seriously as a GM weapon -- even though its analysis of the declined line with 5.Bg5 definitely favored White.  Games given in the historical introduction include Tarrasch - Alekhine, Pistyan 1922; Dus-Chotimirski - Levenfish, Moscow 1922; Gruenfeld - Rabinovich, Moscow 1925; Lukov - Przewoznik, Naleczow 1981; and Browne - Dzindzichashvili, USA 1984.

Correspondence Chess Yearbook 6 (1990)
Includes theoretical articles on the Sicilian Dragon (B76) and Blumenfeld Gambit (E10).

The Misa Pap Attack (C02)

Position after 9.Nbd2!?

There have been some recent publications on IM Jiri Nun's variation of the Milner Barry Gambit (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Nbd2!?), which some would rename the "Misa Pap Attack" after its most recent and public GM advocate (see videos below).  In analyzing the game Melekhina-Forestier, Poland 2010, I definitely gained some respect for this gambit line against the French Defense, and there are many attractive lines in GM Misa Pap's recent analysis in Chess Informant #113 (available for instant download for only $3.99).  Besides Nun, Pap, and Melekhina, GM David Smerdon has used the gambit on occasion.   The line receives only passing reference in books; for instance, Sam Collins in The French Advance (2nd ed. Everyman 2006) gives only the game Jesus Baron Rodriguez - Carlos Matamoros Franco, Campillos 2005 as his example.  So fans of surprise lines (and perhaps fans of the Smith-Morra) are sure to find it attractive.  

• Philipper.  "Beating French with Advance Variation."  Chess.com (2014)
  Offers two games with the Pap Attack.
• Misa Pap, C02 French Advance by Pap (2013)
  Printable PDF file + PGN file on the line, with analysis by GM Miso Pap from Informant 113.
• GM Misa Pap Shows You How to Play Aggressive Chess.  Onlinechesslessons.net (2012)
• French Advance, Milner Barry and Nd2 Gambit.  Chessgames.com (2012)
  A game collection from Chessgames.com by someone with the handle "senselessname."
• Michael Goeller, Sidelined in the Milner Barry Gambit (2010)
  Analyzes a nice win for White with this line in Melekhina - Forestier, Poland 2010.  I would not be surprised to see a full length video coming out from Empire Chess by Melekhina on the line (see video below).
• Shaun Press, 2008 Anu Open -- Round 1.  ChessExpress Blog (2008)
  Posts the game Smerdon - Grcic [C02] ANU Open, 26.07.2008.
• Mila Bjelajac, "9.Nbd2!? in the C02 French Defense."  ChessCafe (2005)
  A very detailed article from the Informant, especially for those looking for a free theory reference.
• Introduction to the Milner Barry Gambit (PDF). The New Chessplayer.
  Includes a useful collection of games with 9.Nbd2.

Tricky Bishop in the Bird Defense (C61)

I have annotated the game Balakrishnan - Goeller, Garden State Chess League 2014, played last week at Rutgers University.  It features the Bird Variation of the Ruy Lopez (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4), which has long been a favorite of mine. In fact, I have played the line that we reached in the game well over a hundred times in tournaments and online blitz: 4.Nxd4 exd4 5.O-O Bc5 6. d3 c6 7. Bc4 d5. So it was quite a surprise to see the tricky Bishop retreat 8.Bb3! which was completely new to me.

Position after 8.Bb3

As my analysis shows, this move poses some very difficult problems for Black in the 5...Bc5 line of the Bird.  For one thing, Black cannot get rid of his doubled pawns with 8...dxe4? due to 9.Bxf7+ or 9.Qh5 with a big edge for White.  And the natural 8...Ne7 (which I played without thinking) will directly transpose (after 8.Bb3! Ne7 9.f4! f5) to a line that usually arises by the move order 5.O-O Bc5 6.d3 c6 7.Ba4 Ne7 8.f4 f5 9.Bb3 d5.  This has long been known to give White a big edge.  

Despite my set-back in the opening, which eventually cost me a pawn, I managed to get some play on the king-side by opening up the h-file.  In fact, late in the game I had a chance to win with a surprising shot (see diagram).  I missed it, but I regained my pawn for a draw with 28....Qe7, threatening Qh7 and Qxb4.  What was the stronger move?

Black to play and win after 28.Qf2.

Praveen recently won the Kenillworth Chess Club Championship for the second time in a row (see 2013 and 2014). That is an impressive achievement for a sixth grader!  The game I've annotated was the third we have played in as many years. All three games have featured the Bird Variation of the Ruy Lopez and are included in my notes. 

Previous posts on the Bird Defense:

• Ruy Lopez Bird's Defense (C61) Update
• Bird's Defense Bibliography (C61)
• Bird Blitz

Classical King's Indian with 6...Na6 Bibliography

The Classical King's Indian begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2, and now the most popular continuation is 6...e5 7.O-O Nc6, which can lead to the Mar del Plata variation after 8.d5 Ne7.  But this line has accumulated a lot of theory, so it is tempting to explore the more offbeat alternatives.  Previously I posted a bibliography devoted to the "Old Main Line King's Indian with 7...exd4" (with Nc6 to follow -- as opposed to the c6 lines examined by Ronen), and in Dangerous Weapons: The King's Indian, IM Yelena Dembo does an excellent job of trying to revive the 7...Nbd7 (or 6...Nbd7) lines that Najdorf and his Zurich 1953 contemporaries preferred.  But the most interesting alternative to 7...Nc6 is offered by 7...Na6 (or 6...Na6), a variation attributed to GM Igor Glek.

Though Glek developed the Na6 system with the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Na6, it is now increasingly common for Black to prefer 6...Na6, delaying the e5 advance until White has committed to 7.O-O.  Sometimes called the Kazakh System, this approach has the chief advantage of sidestepping the annoying exchange line that follows 6.Be2 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bg5, where White can play Nd5 and/or O-O-O with quick development and a slight but annoying initiative.  By comparison, the exchange line that follows 6...Na6 7.O-O e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 is completely innocuous due to White's short castling and the useful position of the Knight at a6, which prevents Nd5xc7 tactical threats and prepares to strike back at the e4 pawn with Nc5.  After this exchange, Black has the better breaks, more targets, and excellent long term chances to exploit the weak d4 square -- see Morchiashvili - Volokitin, Batumi 2003 for an example (though, like most games with this line, it features a much lower player as White trying to hold a draw against a strong Black player.)

The most promising development in the 6...Na6 line, at least for us amateurs, is the appearance of a number of very good video presentations on it, especially by American GM Eugene Perelshteyn (at Chess.com, Chesslecture.com, and most recently Empire Chess) and GM Dejan Bojkov, whose excellent ChessBase DVD, "A Modern Way to Play the King's Indian," offers a complete KID repertoire built around an early ...Na6.  There are also several online game collections at 365 Chess, Chess Tempo, and Chess.com. 

I have tried to include everything I can find on this fascinating King's Indian line.  But the King's Indian is such a dynamic and widely discussed topic that I am sure I have overlooked some interesting coverage.  As always, I invite readers' additions and corrections.

Eugene Perelshteyn, Dominate White with the King's Indian Defense 6. Na6 System.  DVD Empire Chess 2 (2013).  Perelshteyn has made three presentations on the 6...Na6 Classical line -- for Chess.com, Chesslectures.com, and now for Onlinechesslessons.net's Empire Chess series.  They all cover similar material, but this last video might be his most detailed.  However, if you have a Chess.com or Chesslecture.com membership, I don't think you would have to invest in this video too, though it is nice to be able to watch it on your DVD player on TV rather than on your computer only.





Karsten Müller and Raymund Stolze, "His Great Love the King's Indian: A Short Repertoire a la Nakamura."  Fighting Chess with Hikaru Nakamura.  Edition Olms (2012): 186-197.  This book on Nakamura's games is worth having in its own right (see my Chessgames.com collection of games from the book), but it also features an interesting chapter on Nakamura's KID repertoire, a couple pages of which cover his use of Na6 (though the focus is on Nakamura's use of the Classical with Nc6).  Games discussed include Kreiman - Nakamura, Foxwoods 2003; Alekseev - Nakamura, Santo Domingo 2003; Ponomariov - Nakamura, 3rd St Louis 2011; Ponomariov - Nakamura, 5th St. Louis 2011; Gavrilov - Shimanov, Moscow 2011; Finegold - Nakamura, US Open Cherry Hill 2007; and Vallejo Pons - Nakamura, World Cup Sao Paulo / Bilbao 2011.

Eugene Perelshteyn, My Pet King's Indian, Na6. DVD Chess Lecture Volume 28 (2011).  This is an excellent set of videos on the Na6 line, but unless you think you are going to watch it several times you would probably be better off just joining Chesslecture.com for a couple months, which will also give you access to a bunch of other excellent King's Indian videos by Perelshteyn, David Vigorito, and Leonid Kritz, among others.








Dejan Bojkov, A Modern Way to Play the King's Indian ChessBase DVD (2011).
A really excellent video, which does not stop at covering Na6 against the Classical but covers this modern, flexible approach against most lines that White can throw at you, from the Four Pawn Attack to h3 lines.  He does not recommend it against the Saemisch (where he recommends the popular c5 gambit) or the Fianchetto (where he recommends the interesting line with c6 and Qa5).  Specific games discussed include Plaskett - Nunn, Borehamwood 34/737 1982; Nakamura - McShane, London 2009; Likavsky - Richter, Germany 2006; Yevseev - Zhigalko, Cappelle la Grande 2006; Popov - Loginov, 77th St. Petersberg Championship 2004; Stellwagen - Iordachescu, Corus 2002; Avrukh - Milov, Gibtelecom 2009.

Eugene Perelshteyn, The King's Indian Defense 6...Na6 Variation, Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.  Chess.com.  By Subscription only.

Arun and Magesh, "The King's Indian 7...Na6."  Chess.com.
Annotates the game Khachiyan - Kamsky, St. Louis US Ch. 2010.

Alexey Kuzmin, "Quite an Original Move." NIC Yearbook 97 (2010): 200-204.
Focuses on the line 8.Re1 Qe8 ("quite an original move").  Games include Pashikian - Miton, Khanty-Mansiysk ol 2010; Karpov - Milov, Biel 1996; Yermolinsky - Milov, Moscow 2001; Margvelashvili - Kasimdzhanov, Konya tt 2010; Gonzalez-Garcia - Vachier-Lagrave, Sestao tt 2010; Timoshenko - Grigore, Berlin 1998; Rama - Miton, Khanty-Mansiysk ol 2010; Eljanov - Areschenko, Sochi tt 2005; Akopian - Radjabov, Bursa 2010; Dottling - Milov, Kemer tt 2007; Ftacnik - Efimenko, Bundesliga 2004-2005; Rychagov - Khamatgaleev, Patras 2002.




John Sanders, Nakamura - McShane, London Chess Classic  2009.  ChessBase (2009).
Some useful contemporary notes on this great game from McShane from Round 5 of the 2009 London Chess Classic.  Also available at the official tournament site.

Malcolm Pein.  "Wild Win for Luke McShane."  The Telegraph (15 Dec. 2009).







Bogdan Lalic, "A Modest but Venomous Rook Move."  NIC Yearbook 88 (2008): 213-216.  Mostly from the White perspective, focused on the line 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.Re1!? (the "modest but venomous rook move") 10...exd4 and now the new idea 11.Nd5!  Lalic recommends Black consider 11...h6 or 11...d3!? (following Topalov). Games discussed include Lalic - Bates, Hastings 2007-2008; Anand - Polgar, Leon advanced chess rapid playoff 2000; Bauer - McShane, Bundesliga 2003-2004; Popov - Nevostruev, Kazan 2005; Kramnik - Topalov, Nice rapid 2008; Khuzman - McShane, Saint Vincent 2005; Gustafsson - Bojkov, Ermioni tt 2006.

Lluis Comas Fabrego, True Lies in Chess.  Quality Chess (2007).
This excellent book by one of the early adopters of 6...Na6 offers a full chapter of analysis and discussion of the Classical 6...Na6 line and some discussion of an interesting ending that can arise from it.  Fabrego Comas Fabrego admits that his intention is not to offer a detailed analysis of the line, but some unique insights, games, and discussion.  Worth having for the discussion alone, which has helped my own understanding of the line tremendously.  Gomez Jurado - Comas Fabrego, Foment 1995; Paszek - Petkevich, Germany 1999; Candela Perez - Comas Fabrego, Burgos 2003; Gelfand - Markowski, Polanica Zdroj 1998; Huzman- Comas Fabrego, Istanbul 2003; Atalik - Comas Fabrego, New York 1998; Van Wely - Comas Fabrego, Escaldes 1998; Lautier - Comas Fabrego, Spain 1999; Garcia Ilundain - Comas Fabrego, Spain 1993.



Michael Goeller,  "Classical King's Indian Defense with ...Na6."  Kenilworth Chess Club (2006).  Based on a lecture by FM Steve Stoyko in which he considers the White side of the 6...Na6 line in the Classical KID.

Alexander Khalifman,  Opening for White According to Kramnik 1b, Chess Stars (2006)
Part II (pp. 61-114) covers the line 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Na6 8.Be3 from White's perspective.

Joe Gallagher, Play the King's Indian.  Everyman Chess (2004): 69-82.
Though Gallagher focuses on the Classical Variation with 7...Nc6, he offers a useful chapter on 7...Na6 for those who find the main line "too sharp or too theoretical."  He also advocates Na6 vs the Averbakh.  Main games include Rogers - Gallagher, Bundisliga 1997; Jackelen - Gallagher, Bundesliga 2002; Van Wely - Gallagher, Biel 2000; Knott - Gallagher, Torquay 2002; Grooten - Motylev, Essent Open Hoogovens 2003; Soffer - Mittelman, Israeli Team Ch 2003; and Gelfand - Markowski, Polanica Zdroj 1998.

Andrew Martin, King's Indian Battle Plans.  Thinker's Press (2004): 231-236.  Martin's book is a collection of over 200 annotated games with interesting ideas in the King's Indian.  Though it does not offer a specific repertoire, it does expose the reader to lots of interesting approaches and ideas in the KID that you will not find in other books.  Games specifically devoted to the Na6 line in the Classical include Anand - Polgar, Leon advanced chess rapid playoff 2000; Markos - Movsesian, Kaskady 2002; and Shulman - Perelshteyn, Milwaukee 2000.

Konikowski E94 ChessBase Magazine (November 2004)
This and the following article appear in the ChessBase Opening Encyclopedia, which is worth having.

Konikowski E94 ChessBase Magazine #98 (March 2004).

Igor Glek, "A New Try in the Glek Variation." NIC Yearbook 63 (2002).

Andrew Martin, Classical King's Indian E90-E99.  Online PDF.

Kick Langeweg, "Developments with 9...Bg4."  NIC Yearbook 53 (2000). 

Graham Burgess, "KID: Kazakh Variation."  101 Chess Opening Surprises (1998 / 2001): 104.  Games mentioned are Bruk - Tsifanskaya, Israel 1997 and Zviaginstev - Tkachev, Biel 1995. 

Igor Glek, "With Karpov's 8.Re1."  NIC Yearbook 47 (1998). 

Kick Langeweg, "With 8...c6 and 8...Ng4." NIC Yearbook 46 (1998). 

Vladimir Tukmakov, "With 8.Be3." NIC Yearbook 43 (1997). 

Graham Burgess, The King's Indian for the Attacking Player.  Henry Holt / Batsford (1993).
Perhaps the first treatment of the Glek Variation in a repertoire book.  Burgess makes Na6 (against h3 systems, Gligoric, Averbakh, Four Pawns Attack, and Classical) a big part of his repertoire, though he also provides coverage of the Classical lines with 7...Nc6.  This is still a very useful book for amateur players.  Games include Dreev - Glek, Frunze 1988; Berg Hansen - Schandorff, Arhus 1992; Guseinov - Glek, Azov 1991; Aseev - Glek, Krumbach 1991; Miles - Anand, Rome 1990; Karpov - Kasparov, New York WCh (5), 1990; Hansen - Schandorff, Kerteminde 1991; Vladimirov - Kochiev, Gausdal 1991.


Peter Lukacs and Laszlo Hazai, "King's Indian, Glek Variation."  NIC Yearbook 30 (1993). 

As always, I welcome additions and corrections from readers.

The Chess Players (1977)

I saw that The Chess Players (1977) was reviewed at The Streatham & Brixton Chess Blog, so I thought I'd mention it is available at Amazon on DVD or via instant video, where it can be rented for as cheaply as $2.99.  I watched it on my Kindle Fire over the summer.  It is a very interesting film by Indian director Satyajit Ray, in Urdu and English, with subtitles as necessary.  It portrays an important mid-19th century turning point toward British colonial rule, as the East Indian Company decided to exploit the decadence and weakness of the Indian elite (depicted as feasting, reciting poetry, smoking hookahs and, of course, playing chess) to begin installing their own government by invading an important province.  This larger political story is paralleled with the story of two elite men addicted to playing chess, to the point where they ignore the proper management of their households in order to escape into their game.  It's a fascinating commentary on the dangers of chess, and one that will definitely make you think a bit about why you spend so much time playing the game yourself...  Highly recommended.