A Quick Guide to the Benoni Defense

The Benoni Defense

The Old Benoni
1. d4 c5
Number of games in database: 2651
Years covered: 1843 to 2017
Overall record:
White wins 42.2%
Black wins 29.4%
Draws 28.4%
The Old Benoni, also known as the Benoni Gambit, is good for challenging whites control of the
center. Of all the main variations of the Benoni, this one is the least sound, but it is easier to pick
up for less skilled players and is a good introduction to the Benoni Defense. Typically, white
responds to 1c5 with 2. d5, allowing white to keep control of the center. From here, black
should try to transpose to the main position of the Czech Benoni. However, in lower level play,
white will often accept the pawn, playing 2. dxc5?! This takes tension away from the center and
loses a tempo, and is not a strong move for white. However, if you encounter this 2e6 is the
strongest response, gaining some control of the center, threatening the c5 pawn, and keeping
with the general passive nature of the Benoni. White players eager to keep their material
advantage will typically play 3. b4, which can be challenged by 3a4. More often than not, this
is met with 4. c3??. This leaves whites queenside vulnerable to 4Qf6!, winning the a1 rook.

Alexander Alekhine vs Grigory Levenfish

"St. Petersburg Spilled Blood" (game of the day Sep-28-2011)
St Petersburg (1912), St Petersburg RUS, Mar-31
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense (A43) 1-0

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 g6 5. f4 Nbd7 6. Nf3 a6 7. e5 de5 8. fe5 Ng4 9. e6 Nde5 10. Bf4 Nf3 11.
gf3 Nf6 12. Bc4 fe6 13. de6 Qb6 14. Qe2 Qb2 15. Nb5 Qa1 16. Kf2 Qh1 17. Nc7 Kd8 18. Qd2 Bd7 19. ed7

Akiba Rubinstein vs Rudolf Spielmann

Bad Pistyan (1912), Bad Pistyan CZE, rd 6, May-27
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni (A43) 0-1

1. d4 Notes by Dr. Savielly Tartakower. *** The building up of an attack by the second
player - especially in an opening both peculiar and difficult to handle - is a special art.
We shall be able to follow some its guiding principles
here. 1... c5 2. d5 d6 3. c4 g6 4. e4 Bg75. Bd3 e6 It will be noticed that Black carefully
refrains from blocking the long diagonal either by 5...e5 or, even temporarily,
by 5...Nf6. 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Nge2 Here 7.f4, followed by Nf3, leads to more straightforward
development. 7... ed5 8. ed5 Nd7 9. f4 Nf610. Ng3 h5 Sounding the general
attack. 11. O-O h4 12. Nge4Ne4 13. Be4 Bd4 14. Kh1 Nf5 Black's attack has quickly
assumed a concrete form. The text move announces the well-known attack
by 15...Ng3+. 15. Bf5 Bf5 16. Re1 Kf8 17. Qf3White seeks to avoid fresh weaknesses;
e.g., if 17.Be3 Bxc318.bxc3 h3 19.g3 Be4+ 20.Kg1 f5 (or 20...Bg2), and White's position
remains restricted. 17... h3 18. g3 Evedently not 18.g4??
Qh4. 18... Qd7 19. Bd2 Bg4 20. Qf1 Qf5 21. Rac1 Kg722. Be3 Bf6 23. b3 Rhe8 24. Bf2
Bf3 25. Kg1 Bg2 26. Re8Bf1 27. Ra8 Qd3 28. Re8 Qf3 29. Kf1 Qh1 30. Bg1 Qg231. Ke
1 Qg1 32. Kd2 Qh2 For if 33.Ne2 Qg2 34.Rg1 Qxg1!35.Nxg1 h2, etc.

Benko Gambit (A57)

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5
Number of games in database: 3284
Years covered: 1922 to 2017
Overall record:
White wins 41.2%
Black wins 31.7%
Draws 27.1%

The Benko Gambit is the most popular form of the Benoni, as it leads to strong development and control
for black, and puts white in an awkward, difficult to play position. It is typically continued with 4. cxb5 a6
5. bxa6 Bxa6, pinning the e pawn to whites bishop. If white chooses to release the pin by fianchettoing
the bishop, it is only to gain control of the center through e4, as the bishop on g2 would be blocked by
the d5 pawn. If white ignores the pin and plays e4 without fianchettoing, black captures the bishop and
white has to recapture with the king, losing the ability to castle. Either way, black should fianchetto the
kingside bishop to strengthen control of the board. It is ideal to tempt a queen for queen exchange
because the queen is whites best chance at equalizing after the opening.

Alexey Shirov vs Arnaud Hauchard

"Pair of Queens Beats a Full House" (game of the day Dec-07-2004)
Paris (1990), Paris FRA
Benko Gambit: Accepted. Pawn Return Variation (A57) 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cb5 a6 5. b6 d6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. a4 Qb6 8. a5 Qc7 9. e4 g6 10. f4 Bg7 11. Bc4
O-O 12. Nf3 Re8 13. O-O e5 14. de6 fe6 15. Ng5 Nf8 16. f5 h6 17. e5 de5 18. fg6 hg5 19. Bg5 N8d7 20.
Qf3 Ra7 21. Rad1 Qb7 22. Qh3 Qc6 23. Nd5 ed5 24. Rd5 Kf8 25. Qh7 Re6 26. Bh6 Ke8 27. Qg7 Nd5 28.
Qh8 Ke7 29. g7 Rh6 30. Rf7 Kf7 31. g8Q Ke7 32. Qd8

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen

World Blitz Cup (2007), Moscow RUS, rd 29, Nov-22
Benko Gambit: Accepted. Dlugy Variation (A57) 0-1
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cb5 a6 5. f3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. a4 e6 9. Nh3 Bb7 10. de6 fe6 11. Be3
d5 12. Bc5 Re8 13. Be2 Nbd7 14. Bf2 de4 15. O-O ab5 16. Nb5 Ne5 17. Nd6 ef3 18. Nb7 fe2 19. Qe2 Qd5
20. Nc5 Neg4 21. Rad1 Qc6 22. b4 Nf2 23. Qf2 Nd5 24. b5 Qb6 25. Na6 Qf2 26. Rf2 Nc3 27. Rd7 Red8 28.
Rfd2 Bd4 29. R2d4 Ne2 30. Kf2 Nd4 31. Rd8 Rd8 32. Nf4 e5 33. Ne2 Nb3 34. b6 Na5 35. Nc5 Rd6 36. b7
Rb6 37. Nd7 Rb7 38. Ne5 Rb4 39. g3 Ra4 40. Nf4 Ra2 41. Kg1 Nb3 42. h4 Nd4 43. Nd7 Ne2 44. Ne2 Re2
45. Kf1 Ra2 46. Nf6 Kg7 47. Ng4 Kf7 48. Nf2 Kf6 49. Kg2 Kf5 50. Kf3 Ra3 51. Kg2 Ke5 52. Ng4 Kd4 53. Nf6
Ra7 54. g4 Ke5 55. g5 h5 56. Kf3 Kf5 57. Nd5 Ra3 58. Ne3 Ke5

Akiba Rubinstein vs Rudolf Spielmann

Vienna (1922), Vienna AUT, rd 12, Nov-28
Benko Gambit: Declined. Main Line (A57) 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. c4 Bb7 5. a4 bc4 6. Nc3 e6 7. e4 Ne4 8. Ne4 ed5 9. Nc3 d4 10. Bc4 dc3 11.
Bf7 Kf7 12. Qb3 c4 13. Ne5 Kg8 14. Qb7 Nc6 15. Nc6 Qe8 16. Be3 cb2 17. Qb2 dc6 18. O-O Bd6 19. Qc3
Qe6 20. Rac1 Kf7 21. Rfe1 Rhe8 22. Bf4 Qg6 23. Qc4 Kf8 24. Bd6 Qd6 25. Re3 Qd5 26. Qc6 Qc6 27. Rc6
Red8 28. g3 Rd7 29. a5 Rb8 30. h4 Rb5 31. a6 Ra5 32. Kg2 Ra2 33. h5 Ra5 34. h6 gh6 35. Rh6 Kg7 36. Rc6
Rf5 37. Rec3 Rdf7 38. f4 Rd7 39. Kh3 Rff7 40. R3c5 Kf8 41. Kh4 Ke7 42. Rb5 Kf8 43. f5 Rfe7 44. g4 Kf7 45.
Kh5 Re1 46. Kg5 Ree7 47. Rb8

Carlos Enrique Guimard vs Paul Keres

Gothenburg Interzonal (1955), Gothenburg SWE, rd 15, Sep-09
Benko Gambit: Declined. Main Line (A57) 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5 4. c4 Bb7 5. Nc3 b4 6. Qb3 Qa5 7. Nd1 e6 8. e4 Ne4 9. Bd3 Nf6 10. O-O g6 11.
Bg5 Bg7 12. Ne3 O-O 13. h4 Qc7 14. Rae1 d6 15. Bf6 Bf6 16. Ng4 Bg7 17. h5 ed5 18. hg6 hg6 19. Ng5 Qd7
20. Re6 fe6 21. Bg6 Rf5 22. Qe3 Rg5 23. Qg5 Nc6 24. cd5 Qe7 25. Qh5 Ne5 26. Re1 Bd5 27. Qh7 Kf8 28.
Nh6 Qf6 29. Re5 de5 30. f3 Bh6 31. Qh6 Ke7 32. Qh7 Kd6

The Czech Benoni

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5

The Czech Benoni is the most solid line, but is often criticized for being too passive. It follows
classical chess strategy, with white building a strong pawn center and focusing on development
over long term position. The main line continues 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Be2 O-O 8.
O-O Ne8! 9. Qc2 g6 10. Bh6 Ng7 11. Nd2 a6 12. a3 f5!? 13. exf5! gxf5 14. f4. After this sequence,
white has a slight advantage, but black is ready to continue a powerful kingside attack that
white will have to devote everything to in order to defend successfully. If white ignores blacks
powerful position and strays too greatly from this line, he is unlikely to be able to defend against
blacks f7-f5 push. If whites kingside is built up powerfully, a b7-b5 push should suffice to launch
a queenside attack. If white doesnt set up a counter to f7-f5 early enough, it can be pushed
early, however it is crucial that you have a pawn on g6 and a knight on g7 to defend the pawn
and strengthen the push. One fatal weakness of this defense is that if white plays Ne6!, the
entire defense can fall apart. Capturing the knight with the bishop is recommended if this
happens. When launching the attack on the kingside, a pawnstorm can put white in a tricky
position, often forcing material sacrifices or destroying whites pawn structure. This opening has
much more information than I can reasonably cover so if youre interested you should study it in
more depth independently.

Garry Kasparov vs Anthony Miles

Basel (1986), Basel SUI, rd 1
Benoni Defense: Czech Benoni Defense (A56) 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. h3 Nbd7 8. g4 Ne8 9. Bd3 a6 10. a4 Rb8 11.
Rg1 Nc7 12. b3 Re8 13. h4 b5 14. g5 Nf8 15. h5 Bd7 16. Nh2 bc4 17. Bc4 f5 18. ef5 Bf5 19. Nf1 Qd7 20.
Ne3 e4 21. Bb2 Bd8 22. Ne2 Qf7 23. Nf4 Bc8 24. Rg4 Qe7 25. Rg3 Qf7 26. Nfg2 Na8 27. a5 Nc7 28. Nh4
Nb5 29. g6 hg6 30. Ng6 Bf6 31. Bb5 Rb5 32. Qc2 Bb2 33. Qb2 Ng6 34. Rg6 Re5 35. O-O-O Rh5 36. Rdg1
Rh7 37. Nc4 Qf4 38. Kb1 Rb7 39. Nd6 Bf5 40. Rf6 Qh2 41. Rg3 Qh1 42. Ka2

Boris Gelfand vs Levon Aronian

Amber Rapid (2006), Monte Carlo MNC, rd 9, Mar-28
Benoni Defense: Czech Benoni Defense (A56) 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. g3 Nbd7 7. Bg2 O-O 8. Nge2 Ne8 9. O-O g6 10. Be3 Ng7
11. Kh1 Kh8 12. Qd2 Nf6 13. f4 ef4 14. gf4 Re8 15. Bg1 Ngh5 16. e5 de5 17. fe5 Ng4 18. Ne4 Ne5 19. d6
Bf8 20. Bc5 Bg7 21. Rac1 b6 22. Bg1 Bb7 23. c5 bc5 24. Nc5 Bg2 25. Kg2 Qc8 26. Nd4 Qg4 27. Kh1 Rad8
28. Nb7 Rd7 29. Rc7 Qh3 30. Qg2 Ng3 31. Qg3 Qf1 32. Qg2 Qa6 33. Nc5 Qd6 34. Nb5 Qc7 35. Nc7 Rc7
36. Qd5 Rcc8 37. Nb7 Rc1 38. Nd6 Rd8 39. Kg2 Rc2 40. Kg3 Kg8 41. Kh3 h5 42. Ba7 Rb2 43. Bc5 Kh7 44.
Bd4 Rd2 45. Qa5 Rd3

The Modern Czech Benoni

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7
This is the response that a player who is more familiar with the Benoni will likely play. Right off
the bat, white sets himself up to counter the crucial f5-f7 push. This is very difficult to play for
black, because white has many options and it is difficult to be prepared for them all. However,
because Nf3 and Bd3 are almost always played by white, I will assume that white plays this for
turns 6 and 7, respectively. Black should play 6O-O, but 6Nbd7 is also playable, especially if
white plans to play g2-g4. 7Nbd7 8. h3 Ne8?! 9. g4 will lead to the main position of this
opening, however moves are often played in different orders or played with slightly different
moves by white. If white chooses to play 9. O-O, it will lead to a slight variation of the Classical
Czech Benoni. Black needs to be extremely careful when white plays the modern line, and
needs to be creative to counter whites setup. Black needs to play with caution. Any player who
wants to play the Benoni needs to study master games to see how it can be countered and
played against. Personally I find 9Kh8!? a good trap to lure whites bishop away from d3, but
the more experienced white player will likely not fall for this.

Fabiano Caruana vs Hikaru Nakamura

Tata Steel (2013), Wijk aan Zee NED, rd 10, Jan-23
Benoni Defense: Modern Variation (A56) 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bc2 Ne8 9. O-O Nc7 10.
a4 Na6 11. f4 Nb4 12. Be3 e6 13. de6 fe6 14. Qd2 Nf6 15. Rad1 Ng4 16. Bb1 Nc6 17. Kh1 Ne3 18.
Qe3 Nd4 19. e5 de5 20. fe5 Rf1 21. Rf1 Bd7 22. Nd4 cd4 23. Qd4 Bc6 24. Qg4 Qe7 25. b3 Be5 26. Ne2
Rd8 27. Be4 Be8 28. Qf3 b6 29. Nf4 Bf7 30. Nd3 Bd6 31. Qe3 Qh4 32. h3 Qg3 33. Qg3 Bg3 34. Rf3 Bc7
35. Kg1 Rd4 36. Re3 g5 37. Kf2 h5 38. Re2 a5 39. Ke3 Rd8 40. Bf3 Kg7 41. Rb2 Bd6 42. Rb1 Kf6 43. Rf1
Ke7 44. Be4 Rg8 45. Rh1 h4 46. Bf3 Rf8 47. Rd1 Rd8 48. Rf1 Bg6 49. Be4 Bh5 50. Bf3 Rf8 51. Nf2 Bg6
52. Ne4 Bc5 53. Kd3 Rd8 54. Kc2 g4 55. hg4 h3 56. Rd1 Rf8 57. Kd3 h2 58. Rh1 Bg1 59. Ke2 Be4 60.
Be4 Kf6 61. Bf3 Rd8

London System
The London System is a chess opening that usually arises after 1.d4 and 2.Bf4 or 2.Nf3 & 3.Bf4. It
is a "system" opening that can be used against virtually any black defense and thus comprises a
smaller body of opening theory than many other openings. The London System is one of
the Queen's Pawn Game openings where White opens with 1.d4 but does not play the Queen's
Gambit. It normally results in a closed game.
Basically the London is a set of solid lines where after 1.d4 White quickly develops his dark-
squared bishopto f4 and normally bolsters his centre with [pawns on] c3 and e3 rather than
expanding. Although it has the potential for a quick kingside attack, the white forces are
generally flexible enough to engage in a battle anywhere on the board. Historically it developed
into a system mainly from three variations:

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4.

Bernard Boyle vs Thomas Lane

E.U. Championship and Cork Chess Congress (2005), Cork IRL, rd 9
Queen Pawn Game: Sarratt Attack (D00) 1-0

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nd2 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Ngf3 Bd7 7. Bd3 a6 8. a4 Be7 9. Ne5 cd4 10. ed4
O-O 11. Qf3 Re8 12. g4 g6 13. h4 Bf8 14. h5 Bg7 15. hg6 hg6 16. Bg5 Nb8 17. Qh3 Bc6 18. Ndf3 Qb6
19. Bf6 Bf6 20. Qh7 Kf8 21. Qf7#
 Friedrich Saemisch vs Akiba Rubinstein
Dresden (1926), Dresden GER, rd 3, Apr-06
Queen Pawn Game: Zukertort Variation (D02) 0-1

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Qb6 7. Qc1 Bd7 8. Nbd2 Rc8 9. Qb1 Be7 10. h3
O-O 11. Ne5 Rfd8 12. Bh2 Be8 13. O-O g6 14. Kh1 Nd7 15. Nd7 Rd7 16. Nf3 Rdd8 17. Re1 a6 18. Qc1
Kg7 19. Qd2 Qa7 20. Qe2 cd4 21. ed4 Qb6 22. Bf4 Rd7 23. Ne5 Rdd8 24. Nc6 Rc6 25. Qd2 f6 26. Re2
Bf7 27. Rae1 Rd7 28. g4 Qd8 29. Bg3 Bf8 30. f3 Be7 31. Rh2 b5 32. a3 Rb7 33. h4 Bd6 34. Bd6 Qd6 35.
f4 Rc8 36. h5 gh5 37. Rg1 Kh8 38. f5 Rg8 39. Qh6 ef5 40. Bf5 Bg6 41. Bg6 Rg6 42. Qh5 Rbg7 43. Qf5
Rg5 44. Qd3 Qd7 45. Re1 Rg4 46. Qf1 Qf7 47. Rh6 R7g5 48. Qh3 Qg8 49. Rf6 Rg3 50. Qh2 Rg2 51.
Qh3 R5g3 52. Qg2 Rg2 53. Rf8 Qf8 54. Kg2 Qf4 55. Re2 h5