Dear Mikhail Golubev, today your "Understanding the King's Indian" arrived via post and I am going to write a review on it on http://www.berlinerschachverband.de/rezensionen In the introduction you say that there will be a weblog on this book - which is a fantastic idea. I am just a 2000 amateur but can't get enough of the King's Indian, even if I should for a broader view on chess. But I love to analyze and play that position. Probably I can contribute an interesting line to your analysis. I must admit it's not my own idea but I found it somewhere in Chessbase magazine. In game 11, Malakhatko - Golubev, instead of the inaccuracy 14 Nb3, you give Kramnik's famous 14 a4! you have B1) 15...g5 played by Kasparov and B2) 15...Nh5!?. In my old analysis, 15...h5!? remained interesting, with ideas such as Bg4 to provoke f3 and after g2-g3 the knight might give that check on h3. My main line goes 16 Nb5 Bg4 17 f3 Bd7 18 Bb2 h4. Hope it's interesting for you - now I can't wait to read the book!

MG: Maybe! But White can try to prevent ...h4 (by h4 or by Nf3).

In the notes of Van Wely-Golubev, Romanian Superliga (Sovata) 2000, you write about 19.Rf2!? "The only way to play for a win. 19 Nxa8 Qxg3+ with perpetual check was Pachman-Taimanov, Capablanca memorial 1967." In fact, 19 Nxa8 should lose after Qxg3 20 Kh1 Nh5! - it's very hard to find a parachute for White here. All dearest regards, Fernando Offermann

MG: 20...Nh5! seems to be an interesting suggestion. Black has a very strong attack indeed. I am not sure if he is winning, but can believe that you are right. Alas, White, normally, would avoid this line anyway because a draw by perpetual check hardly can suit him.

Hi, I am a German FM and found with support of my silicon friend a big improvement in the Kozul Gambit for White: In your line d31) of your excellent book white has 18.Bxa6!! N +- next 19.Qc2 and there is no real compensation after rf7 qc7: qf8 like in the 18.a3? line!

What do you think?

MG: Well, there are several Kozul's gambits in the King's Indian! :-) I believe that what you mean is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.Rc1 Ng6 14.c5 Nxc5 15.b4 Na6 16.Nb5 Bd7 17.Nxa7 h5 and now 18.Bxa6 bxa6 19.Qc2. We must try to be be careful with assessments of such crazy lines... The first idea for Black, which comes to mind, is 19…g4!? 20.Qxc7 g3 21.hxg3 fxg3 22.Bxg3 Qg5. Is it so clear?

Dear Mr.Golubev, I want to make you a big compliment for your King Indian book!! I think that black players who want to play the King Indian have a good chosen honest openings repertoire. For me you are together with Gallagher, Nunn, Watson and Emms one of the world champions in producing excellent chess books. With friendly chess greetings, Franck Steenbekkers

MG: Many thanks for so kind words. It is really hard to comment! :-) I guess that there are no champions among writers - any book can find its reader.