Hi all. I am a Benko/Budapest player and look for an effective system against 2.Cf3 white's answer, not obviously a gambit but something giving some initiative and easy to learn. :-?

Well 2.. c5 ^ 3 d5 b5 certainly fits with the Benko. Various stuff after 4 Bg5 then so it needs looking at a little. Certainly lively.

White does of course have various ways to not go d5, but you can't really avoid those however you play.

So does 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5.
Another option is the Blumenfeld Gambit 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 and after 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5.

Another option is 2...c5 3.d5 e6, when 4.c4 b5 is the afore-mentioned Blumenfeld Gambit, while 4.Nc3 b5!? is a very interesting gambit analysed in 'Dangerous Weapons: Benoni and Benko'.

MartinC's 3...b5 would be my recommendation, though, when 4.c4 is a Benko, and after 4.Bg5 Qb6 Black should meet 5.Nc3 with 5...b4! and 5.Bf6 Qf6 6.c3 with 6...Bb7. Tregubov is the leading expert of this variation for Black.

[a little bit offtopic:]
I have read in a book on the Benko by Pinski that this particular move-order is not very good for Black. (..g6 before ..b5)
I have an acquaintance (2100~2200) who plays the same way, but I have not yet had an opportunity to play this (as White) and punish him.
I could even look up the page where the author gives a refutation...


MNb wrote on 05/19/10 at 20:09:25:

So does 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5. Another option is the Blumenfeld Gambit 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 and after 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5.