TN wrote on 09/19/09 at 01:01:19:
One of the most popular answers to 2.Nf3 for Benko players is 2...c5 3.d5 b5, which can either transpose to a Benko after 4.c4, or gives Black good counterplay after 4.Bg5 Qb6 5.Nc3 b4!.
Are there any resources on this line to be found somewhere?
Does it have a name? It seems to be just listed as "Old Benoni", which doesn't help too much.
How would it continue? At first glance, I end with 6.Na4 Qa5 7.b3 Ba6 8.e3 Bf1:, which does seem to be something I'd like to play.
This looks rather interesting - but also *ripe* with possibilities (Houdini wants to play 4.e4
Which.. I will most likely not meet OTB) - perhaps too ripe, as I'm a bit lost.
I figure the purpose of ..Qb6 is to protect the b5 pawn, and is done over ..a6 to get an overall faster development - or to keep the a6 square free for a Bishop/Knight, or because I plan an early queenside offense with ..a5?
What about 4. ..Ne4? It seems to score better and have much less drawish tendencies according to some databases, but obviously those numbers are to be taken with a few grains of salt, considering the sample size of this position is .. rather low.
What is White's idea? Bf6: followed by an attack against a king that's either stuck in the center or castled into an open G-File? Would I even retake the Knight with gf6:..
I'm not really sure of either players plan/ideas/anything in this position; so any piece of help would be very welcome.
I remember when I studied these lines I used a few Yearbook Surveys (you can look them up on New In Chess's website). In the 5...b4 line there were a few key games by Tregubov who is probably the leading expert on these lines for Black. Pedersen's recommendation in his Benko Gambit book was to indeed play 4...Ne4 followed by 5...Bb7, to avoid the damaging of your pawn structure that would raise after 4...Bb7 5.Bxf6. These lines are very concrete and so it's not easy to come up with general principles, especially as both sides need to be a bit creative with how they get their pieces out.
PS I recall Johnsen's update of Summerscale's 'A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire for White' claimed a small pull for White after 4...Qb6 5.Bxf6 Qxf6 6.c3. I did some work on this line a long time ago and felt it was equal, but somewhat easier for White to play in practice.