Benko Gambit & Modern Benoni

Two dynamic defences against 1.d4: the Benko pawn sacrifice for pressure on the a- and b-files, and the asymmetry of the Modern Benoni.

A repertoire for players who want active play with Black. In the Benko Gambit you give up a queenside pawn for open files, the g7 bishop and pressure that often lasts into the endgame; in the Modern Benoni you accept a broader white centre in exchange for a queenside pawn majority, the e-file and the long diagonal.

Chapter 1: Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5)

The most famous positional pawn sacrifice: long-term pressure along the a- and b-files with the rooks, the queen and the g7 bishop.

  1. Benko Gambit - Fully Accepted 5.bxa6 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6…
  2. Benko Gambit - 5.b6 (Returning the Pawn) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 Qxb6…
  3. Benko Gambit - Zaitsev System 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 axb5…
  4. Benko Gambit - King's Walk 8.Kxf1 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6…
  5. Benko Gambit - 6.e3 and b3 System 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6…
  6. Benko Gambit Declined 4.Nf3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 bxc4 5.Nc3 g6…
  7. Benko Gambit - Modern Fianchetto with b3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6…
  8. Benko Gambit - 5.e3 and the Pin on c3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 axb5…

Chapter 2: Benoni Defence (3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6)

The defence loved by Tal and Kasparov: queenside majority, half-open e-file, bishop on g7 and a fight against White's mobile centre.

  1. Modern Benoni - Classical Main Line 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6…
  2. Modern Benoni - Taimanov Attack (8.Bb5+) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6…
  3. Modern Benoni - Fianchetto Variation 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6…
  4. Modern Benoni - Knight on e5 and ...g5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6…
  5. Czech Benoni - Closed Centre 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 Be7…
  6. Modern Benoni - Four Pawns Attack with 9...Bg4 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6…
  7. Modern Benoni - Classical with 10.Qc2 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6…
  8. Snake Benoni Variation 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 Bd6…