halfacreek wrote on 02/15/10 at 22:53:04:


The Dragon is probably the closest cousin.  Fianchetto bishop, dark square play, rooks to the queenside, etc.

Good day,

I've just started the Benko and am really enjoying it so far. however, it has me thinking about a cohesive e4 defense. What do benko players play against e4?

There must be a demographic factor, elo-wise, but my impression was that even titled players opt out more often after 2...c5 than after 1...c5. It may have to do with the prejudice in many opening books that 1...c5 was inaccurate. An opinion which I don't buy. - Regarding your question whether 2...f5 or 2...Nf6 is the more effective punishment, today I'd avoid 2...f5 against 2300+ players, who may be able to "sit" on Black's weaknesses for a long time. 

It's a statistic argument. After 1.d4 c5, the chances are better that White plays 2.d5. According to MegaBase 2008, this happens in 63% of the cases, while only 10% resp. 10.8% play 2.c3 or 2.e3. That makes roughly 80% "good" vs. 20% bad cases. 

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5, there is a reduced chance of 3.d5 (42.1%), while "bad cases" abound: 3.c3 (19.8%), 3.e3 (21.4%) and 3.c4 (8.7%), a total of almost 50%. So if you are Black and like unbalanced positions, 2...c5 simply does not achieve what it is made for: urging White's d-pawn to advance.

Moreover, after 1.d4 c5 2.c3/2.e3 Black could still play 2...f5. Objectively slightly worse than 2...Nf6, but it's an option, if you prefer piece play. I recommended 2...f5 in "The Vulture", but admit that my own practice later converted to 2...Nf6. If White doesn't want anything from the opening, why not punish him.

Markovich wrote on 11/12/09 at 17:01:25:

1.d4 c5 2.d5 Nf6 3.Nc3. The Schmid Benoni. Now my recommendation (in The Vulture) was 3...Qa5 4.Bd2 b5 ("Woozle"). See Kaissiber #23, p. 7f. for a critical line. The same issue also discusses 3...d6 4.Nf3 Qa5 5.Bd2 b5, invented by Juan Manuel Bellon. In my opinion it is perfectly sound. - OK, I admit that White has 4.e4 to avoid the Bellon line. In reality, Bellon had played it only against 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 etc. - But there are also the standard lines of the Lothar Schmid Benoni, which have never been refuted. The German book on the Oldindian (by Stoljar & Kondratjew, I believe) is quite helpful.

Willempie wrote on 11/13/09 at 19:23:37:


There is one thing called theoretical play and one thing called practical play. For my own part, I would never play Accelerated agianst any player since I find the Bind positions little to boring for my taste and I would never play it against any lower rated.

Blacks most solid lines i accelerated agianst the Bind includes Nf6 d6 and if allowed a exchange at d4 (or Ng4 if white has played Be3 instead of Be2 or f3) if white cooperative. Nc2 ala Experts vs the Sicilian is interseting where Experts claims small white edge in one position (an improment over a sample game) and books written for black claims small edge for black and computers tend to minimun favor black in that position. The only lines missing out are the more sharper lines where black aims for a quick f5.

Willempie wrote on 11/12/09 at 22:42:29:


Playing 3.Nf3 transposes to the English, and black doesn't have to play against the bind. Two good options are available :
3... e5 4.Nb5 d5 (aka gambit Kasparov)
or
3...e6 followed by Bb4 and Ne4

Keano wrote on 11/12/09 at 11:45:44:


Agree with this post. If you are willing to play the accel dragon from time to time- this is a good bet to trick some whites into a benko.

TN wrote on 11/11/09 at 21:18:37:


This is the Blumenfeld Gambit, is it not?  Is it sound?  I thought that it was considered a bit dicey.  Obviously also, you have to prepare the Torre if you play 2...e6.  Not necessarily a bad thing, of course.

@Stefan: How do you continue after 2.d5 when White doesn't play c4?

It will be interesting to see how Pedersen plans to deal with these questions. But his books is a good seven months away still:
http://www.everymanchess.com/chess/books/Play_the_Benko_Gambit

Markovich is right. Except that, below 2000, 99% of your opponents won't answer 2...c5 with 3.d5 but with 3.c3 or 3.e3

naughtyknight wrote on 11/11/09 at 18:43:35:


Definitely, it is overkill.  Many Benko practioners (perhaps there are not many Benko practioners, in which case I should say a high proportion of Benko practitioners) go with 2...c5 3.d5 b5!?.  I believe that the preferred reply then to 4.Bg5 is 4...Qb6.