TN wrote on 02/03/09 at 07:38:59:
I wouldn't call it the best way to meet the Benko, but 4.Bg5, as suggested in 'Dangerous Weapons: The Benoni and Benko' looks like a unorthodox yet quite tricky anti-Benko line.
I once had a look at the 5.f3 Dlugy Variation, but never played it as White because I couldn't find any advantage for White in the 5...e6 6.e4 ed5 7.e5 Qe7 8.Qe2 Ng8 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Nh3 c4 11.Be3 ab5 12.0-0-0 Qb4 variation, with the key idea of the queen sacrifice 13.Rd5 Qc3! 14.bc3 Bd5 15.Nf4 Ba3 16.Kb1 Ne7, which has been assessed as equal by some commentators but is in my (and Pinski's) view somewhat favourable for Black. 13.Nf4 Ne7 14.Qf2 is more common, but Black fully equalises here as well. Based partly on my experience with the variation as Black, I would argue that the 5.f3 e6 variation is even easier to play for Black than White.
How about the following line for White:
5.f3 e6 6.e4 exd5 7.e5 Qe7 8.Qe2 Ng8 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Nh3 c4, and now
11.Nf4 Qc5 12.Nfxd5!? It's been played a few times, but White didn't follow up correctly, e.g. Nguyen Chi Minh v Tirard (France, 2003) continued 12...Bxd5 13.Be3 Qb4 14.a3 Qa5 15.Bd2 Be6 16.Nd5 Qa4 17.Nb6 Qxb5 18.Nxa8 Qb7 19.Qe4 Nc6 20.Bxc4 Qxa8 with an unclear position, although Black's minor pieces may be preferable to the rook and pawn.
However, White can improve with 17.Nc7+! Kd8 18.b6! (not 18.Nxa8?! axb5 when White's knight might not be able to escape, e.g. 19.Nb6 Qa6 20.Be3 Bb4+! 21.axb4 [or 21.Kf2 Ba5!] 21...Qxa1+ 22.Kf2, unclear) 18...Qc6 19.Qe4 d5 20.exd6 Bxd6 21.Nxa8 Nf6 22.Qxc6 Nxc6 and White has Nc7, leaving him the exchange up for nothing! How about that!