KID bayonet: novelty in critical line maintains counter-chances?

In the trendy 12. ... Re8 line (idea: ...Bf8 and ...c5, overprotecting d6) I had a tough nut to crack.

The whole world is playing 15. ... Rb8 which is bad in my opinion, at least it turned out to be bad. I wasn't able to save the line, White's close to winning. In that particular game (played 2018) I offered draw and my opponent accepted, but we figured out later that White is +4.

Yesterday I had to play it again and prepared the "new" 15. ... Bd7!? which no one has played before. I analysed it with the computer and found it somewhat better than 15. ... Rb8. Alas, White might still have an edge. 20. ... Qb8!? could be a wiser choice for Black.

What do you think? Can you equalize completely? Or figure out a better way to play the 12. ... Re8 line? 20 years ago I went for 12. ... Ne8 which might be still a good choice. I never understood 9. ... Nh5, sry!



Draw was agreed.

Why not piss off your opponent with 9. ... Ne8 or 9. ... c6?

a5 always seemed like black was fighting for equality to me...

9...a5 is an attempt to stifle the white offensive on the queen's side.
9...Nh5 is more thematic: preparing ...f5 as well as ...Nf4.
9...c6 weakens the queen's side even more
9...Ne8 looks passive

@tpr
No.

I played the high-end main line. Sure there are some tricky side-lines, but can you play them on a regular basis or against a well-prepared opponent?

Still hoping that my novelty 15. ... Bd7! improves and equalizes.

9...Nh5 seems enough to equalise against the master of the bayonet.

9...a5 was also sufficient to equalise against the bayonet master

Some analysis:

http://view.chessbase.com/cbreader/2019/10/15/Game600218234.html