Latest Updates:
Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) Modern Benoni help (Read 8166 times)
Girkassa
Senior Member
****
Offline


I Love ChessPublishing!

Posts: 433
Joined: 04/07/07
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #13 - 01/14/08 at 12:58:12
Post Tools
Aha! Thanks, I didn't know that!  Smiley
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Smyslov_Fan
God Member
Correspondence fan
*****
Offline


Progress depends on the
unreasonable man. ~GBS

Posts: 6902
Joined: 06/15/05
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #12 - 01/05/08 at 20:27:13
Post Tools
Noah's Ark is so named because it's well, as old as....
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Girkassa
Senior Member
****
Offline


I Love ChessPublishing!

Posts: 433
Joined: 04/07/07
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #11 - 01/03/08 at 22:26:19
Post Tools
I haven't read Watson myself, but I've heard his coverage of the modern main line is very poor. I don't remember clearly, but I've seen a position where Watson supposedly only considers g5 for White, where I would keep the pawn on g4 and be very happy with the White position, particularly because of a very sad Black knight on g7.

Quote:
(the only opening which name is inspired by the old testament, by the way).


Well, there's the Noah's Ark as well (although that's perhaps not an "opening" as White is already lost). I wonder how that name arose...
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Darthmambo
Full Member
***
Offline


I love ChessPublishing.com!

Posts: 105
Location: USA
Joined: 01/18/03
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #10 - 01/02/08 at 03:00:09
Post Tools
lnn2 wrote on 11/15/07 at 06:27:37:
I notice that quite a few GMs have opted for the Knights Tour 7. Nd2 recently (Gelfand, Kramnik, Koneru),   Huh
can it be that nobody remembers the theory of the modern main line 9. Bd3 b5 ?

Watson is of course a good reference, but i'm not sure if its a good first book. I also can't recommend the Zenon Franco because some important lines are missing.  Imho the best first book is Vegh's Starting Out.



Wow that is pretty cool that the GM's are playing the Knights Tour recently. I have to check those games out. I was thinking of playing nf3 and get into the QID instead of the Nimzo, but did not want to play against the modern benoni (especially since I play the 4 pawn attack).

Ok anyway, there is an everyman book on the modern benoni too. Can't say I have really read it though, but I am pretty happy with the everyman series in general.

I did look at the starting out modern benoni. It looked pretty good, had a lot in it, and the great thing about those books is the games are pretty recent.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
flaviddude
Senior Member
****
Offline


I love ChessPublishing.com!

Posts: 329
Location: Australia
Joined: 01/12/04
Gender: Male
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #9 - 12/27/07 at 12:31:23
Post Tools
Bibs wrote on 11/15/07 at 10:13:14:
Yeah, forgot about Watson. Naturally a good text. 
Be a bit careful with his anti-Flick-knife (or anti-Taimanov) though.



You can say that again. I had troubles handling the positions that arise in correspondence play using his recommendations. The positions are not easy to play. I have improvements for black in the piece blunder variation (also known as the flick knife attack). However these are classified as some of my over the board opponents read this web site.

  

I am hopelessly addicted to the King's Gambit
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Bibs
God Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 2338
Joined: 10/24/06
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #8 - 11/15/07 at 10:13:14
Post Tools
Yeah, forgot about Watson. Naturally a good text. 
Be a bit careful with his anti-Flick-knife (or anti-Taimanov) though.

  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
lnn2
God Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 1504
Location: nc
Joined: 09/22/04
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #7 - 11/15/07 at 06:27:37
Post Tools
I notice that quite a few GMs have opted for the Knights Tour 7. Nd2 recently (Gelfand, Kramnik, Koneru),   Huh
can it be that nobody remembers the theory of the modern main line 9. Bd3 b5 ?

Watson is of course a good reference, but i'm not sure if its a good first book. I also can't recommend the Zenon Franco because some important lines are missing.  Imho the best first book is Vegh's Starting Out.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Smyslov_Fan
God Member
Correspondence fan
*****
Offline


Progress depends on the
unreasonable man. ~GBS

Posts: 6902
Joined: 06/15/05
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #6 - 11/15/07 at 02:43:44
Post Tools
Most of the Benoni players I know recommend Watson classic on the Modern Benoni (His updated version is The Gambit Guide to the Modern Benoni .  I've read several books on the Benoni (the "Son of Sorrow" Opening), and they are mostly at least adequate for the purposes of learning the opening.  The choice really will be one of personal preference.  I do like the Gambit Guide which is written by Watson.  There are others out there that are still useful, so if possible skim through the actual books at a bookstore, library or chess book fair. 

(Check with your area tournament directors to see if a book fair is scheduled for an upcoming tournament!)
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
mefisto6
Junior Member
**
Offline


Pacman is a hedgehog!

Posts: 52
Joined: 10/09/07
Gender: Male
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #5 - 11/14/07 at 12:13:23
Post Tools
The "Gambit Guide to the Modern Benoni" is the bible for the Benoni player (the only opening which name is inspired by the old testament, by the way).
It isn't easy reading though, it will take you a couple of months of study but the reward will be great.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Gerry1970
Senior Member
****
Offline


I Love ChessPublishing!

Posts: 482
Joined: 02/01/06
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #4 - 11/14/07 at 02:22:11
Post Tools
Hello Snake:

I have the Explained and SO books.

Seem to be using SO book more so far. I have decided to play the Modern Variation and the SO book has 5 games on this and more pages. And 2 of the 3 games in the Explained book cover the ...a6 subvariation, iow I think more subvariations are covered in SO book.

Take care,

Gerry
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
drkodos
God Member
*****
Offline


I see....stars.

Posts: 778
Location: Jupiter, and beyond
Joined: 03/29/07
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #3 - 11/12/07 at 16:26:00
Post Tools
I feel the Benko Gambit Revealed by MacDonald is a great book.  I agree that some of the others in the series, including the Benoni, are lesser efforts, but MacDonald's work shines.


One of the better books on the Benoni is an older tome by Bellin & Ponzetto titled:  Mastering the Benoni.  It spends considerable time and pages detailing the various pawn structures and developing thematic understandings for the player instead of merely offering up move orders and sequences.


Personally, I feel the entire system is perilously close to declaring chapter 11, but can be a lot of fun to play, especially in shorter time control events.


Good luck!



  

I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal. I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission.
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Bibs
God Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 2338
Joined: 10/24/06
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #2 - 11/12/07 at 12:53:21
Post Tools
1 and 3 from my experience

The ...'revealed' series was a poor effort. Too skimpy. Lags way behind chess explained and starting out.
Dont waste your cash on that series.

Dont have chess explained benoni so cannot comment. Anyone?

But is Benoni really the way to go?
KID surely.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Antillian
God Member
*****
Offline


Brilliance without dazzle!

Posts: 1757
Joined: 01/05/03
Gender: Male
Re: Modern Benoni help
Reply #1 - 11/12/07 at 10:51:42
Post Tools
Wouldn't the Snake Benoni suit you better ?  Grin
  

"Breakthrough results come about by a series of good decisions, diligently executed and accumulated one on top of another." Jim Collins --- Good to Great
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
snakebite
Junior Member
**
Offline


I Love ChessPublishing!

Posts: 83
Joined: 01/25/06
Modern Benoni help
11/12/07 at 10:30:10
Post Tools
I'm going to start playing the Modern Benoni.  I played it occasionally in the past but got thooked on the Semi Slav for a while.  However, I'm attracted to the dynamism of the Benoni.

I need some advice on which book to go for.  Ideally I want to get the best one but there are so many to choose from.
1) Gambit Guide to the Modern Benoni
2) Chess Explained: Modern Benoni
3) Starting Out: Modern Benoni
4) Modern Benoni Revealed

1) Looks very detailed and full of analysis
2), 3) and 4) I've never flicked through at a book shop, so I would appreciate any input.

Thanks
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Bookmarks: del.icio.us Digg Facebook Google Google+ Linked in reddit StumbleUpon Twitter Yahoo