Matemax -- a very to-the-point post I felt! -- with the sole proviso that, in view of TopNotch's equally appreciable point, it surely needs to be said that f2--f4 can indeed be a deadly plan [i]but[/i] only in the right circumstances (i.e where Black can't just strongpoint e5!).


@John Hall -- My immediate thoughts on 5 ...h5 are:

(1) Mightn't this be a bit inflexible since ...Be7 and ...Nbd7 are probably coming, ...h5 only possibly coming? I guess that, logically speaking, this raises the questions: (a) can Black usefully delay ...Be7 given that doing so prevents him carrying out the typical ...Nbd7/...Nf8 manoeuvre?; (b) can he deploy his QN otherwise (e.g. ...a7--a6 meeting a2--a4 with ...a5 then ...Na6)?

(2) If I'm right in thinking that White, in going for either of the two strong plans you mention via the normal move order, can't (for better or worse) advantageously prevent Black from following Donner--Keene, doesn't it follow that 5 ...h5 really only prevents these plans in the same way that they might well be prevented anyway, though it might prevent or at least change Malich's plan (see Malich--Polugayevsky, on which opinion seems to differ)?

(3) More practically, after 5 ...h5 how can Black avoid nagging disadvantage if White aims for 6 h4, 7 g3 and 8 Bh3? This is the plan I would be most worried about, at any rate.

I tried the Czech in a view games about 2 years ago when Nisipeanu brought it up. I like(d) it against aggressive white play when you get your counterchances - but I had a nasty loss against an opponent who simply did nothing - he even allowed me to play b5 for free and won in the end due to his greater space. The Czech improved my understanding of space in chess - if you feel allright in slightly cramped positions its completely OK! On the other hand you have no compensation for your sligth lack of space and therefore I would consider White to be += right from the start. And its not easy equalizing, cause space is persisting - the centre is blocked. The advantage of the Czech is its focus on understanding rather than on memorizing variations. Thinking about a critical approach for White I would also say that playing for f4 could end in difficulties for Black.

A line in the Czech Benoni that facinates me is:

1. d4  Nf6
2. c4  c5
3. d5  e5
4. Nc3  d6
5. e4  h5!?

h5 is generally a very useful move for black in the Czech Benoni as we see from many games using the modern treatment.

Playing it on move 5 is sharply directed against the two "theoretically best" systems against the CB- the g3 systems and the h3, g4 systems.

If white plays 6. h4- who has gained from the mutual advance of the h-pawns. To be honest, I'm not quite sure. Black has pretty much shut down the f4 plan for white- which I find the most dangerous- but his own ...f5 will be more difficult as well.

Also, I am not quite sure if 6. f4 becomes a decent line for white. Normally, after 5 ...Be7 or 5 ...Nbd7, 6. f4 is considered a pretty bad line for white- but the ...h5 move does nothing for black in that line- so maybe it becomes good!?

Anyways- some food for thought- I've played around with the Czech Benoni a fair bit and I like it.

Can't be certain without checking but that chapter did read much more like Ward wrote it than Palliser.

The chapter does mention other move orders - and doesn't recommend the the g3/h4 idea vs all of them. There's certainly one where black goes g6,Bg7 and white uses some kind of modern main lineish set up instead.

This may well be 5.. Nbd7 but I'd have to check the book to be at all sure.

I haven't got the book but I think Chris Ward the recent dangerous weapons on the benko/benoni covers one of the lines

[quote author=nmga link=1223334310/0#0 date=1223334310]I'm trying to improve my knowledge of the Czech Benoni, which is proving fascinating. As usual, I don't think the key lines/ideas are always delineated particularly logically in the literature -- you have to do that work yourself! As an example, in Kasparov's 'roll-up' line (White plays Nf3 and h3 but delays Bd3), why, after 6 Nf3 Nbd7 7 h3, is 7 ...Nf8!? so rarely mentioned? -- it seems particularly logical now.
[/quote]

7..Nf8 is the most popular move in my database.  According to Igor Stohl, White keeps a small edge after 8.Bd3 Ng6 9.g3 0-0 10.Bd2 Bd7 11.Qe2 a6 12.h4.  One key in this line for White is not to commit the King too early to either side of the board; it's often safer in the center.

Regards,
LeeRoth

I'm trying to improve my knowledge of the Czech Benoni, which is proving fascinating. As usual, I don't think the key lines/ideas are always delineated particularly logically in the literature -- you have to do that work yourself! As an example, in Kasparov's 'roll-up' line (White plays Nf3 and h3 but delays Bd3), why, after 6 Nf3 Nbd7 7 h3, is 7 ...Nf8!? so rarely mentioned? -- it seems particularly logical now.

I have a more straightforward question to help me on my way (after which I shall post some key lines for discussion). Andrew Martin's DVD apparently implies Black should play (5) ...Nbd7 before (5) ...Be7. Can anyone tell me why (and/or tell me what key lines he considers in the video)? I can see that after 5 ...Nbd7 6 Nge2!? a6 7 a4, 7 ...g6!? is an option (Mamedyarov--Nisipeanu), and also that a ....g6 plan might be possible after 6 g3 or even 6 Nf3; but in what circumstances/precise positions does Black's choice on move five make a difference and why?