ChessPub Forum - Why is benko not more popular at GM level?

Oswald YaBB Newbies Offline I Love ChessPublishing! Posts: 1 Joined: 07/04/10	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #15 - 07/04/10 at 15:36:55	Post Tools	Print Post
	Hello Benko Fans. This seems an interesting idea... recently I was playing at Malakoff and had a game against an FM in the benko with a similar idea. I knew I did not know much theory in this line so thought I would try this idea I had prepared in the morning of the round. My game went: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2 Bg7 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Rb1 Nb6 11. b3 Bc8!? 12. Nh4 h6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Bb2 O-O 15. O-O g5 16. Nf3 Qf5 17. e4 Nxe4!? (17... Qg6 is the book move.) 18. Nxe4 Rxa2 19. Nfd2 Nxd5 20. Qc1! Rxb2!? All in! 21. Rxb2 Nb4 22. Rb1 Ba6 23. Nc4 and now I played 23...d5? and quickly lost after 24. Nxc5! but 23...Bd4! continued the initiative though I'm not sure Black has full compensation. Maybe an earlier Nxe4 Smyslov-fan mentioned (without the Bc8!?) idea is an improvement. Though maybe Black has to watch out for b4!? ideas?


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Paddy

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Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level?
Reply #14 - 07/04/10 at 10:39:49

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F22 wrote on 07/04/10 at 05:03:50:

Smyslov_Fan wrote on 07/04/10 at 04:06:30:

*bump*

Here is a diagram after 14. ... Rxa2 in your line:

I guess we could start by examining why is White in big trouble here. So what happens after 15. Re1 for example?

The idea mentioned by Smyslov_Fan 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cb5 a6 5.ba6 Ba6 6.Nc3 g6 7.g3 d6 8.Bg2 Bg7 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10. Rb1! 0-0 11.0-0 Nb6 12.b3 (Avrukh, p. 211) Bb7 13. e4 Nxe4!!? 14.Ne4 Ra2! is very interesting but hard to assess. Since the d5 pawn is doomed, Black is certain to get two good pawns for the piece, destroy White's centre and remain with a great structure. The main variables might now be:

1) Can White coordinate his pieces and find targets, so that his extra piece can be used in attack.
2) Can Black's extra pawns be mobilized, in such a way that White's pieces are cramped, rather than given opportunities to play.

Presumably play would continue something like 15 Re1 Nxd5 16 Re2 to neutralize the rook on the 7th.

I feel the onus is on Black to prove sufficient (rather than merely practical) compensation, but it's a great idea and deserves practical tests. Thanks for mentioning it Smyslov_fan!

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whatteaux Junior Member Offline Posts: 80 Location: Sydney, Oz Joined: 03/22/10	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #13 - 07/04/10 at 06:48:29	Post Tools	Print Post
	How did white's g-pawn get from g4 (move 7) back to g3?


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F22

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Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level?
Reply #12 - 07/04/10 at 05:03:50

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Smyslov_Fan wrote on 07/04/10 at 04:06:30:

*bump*

Here is a diagram after 14. ... Rxa2 in your line:

I guess we could start by examining why is White in big trouble here. So what happens after 15. Re1 for example?

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Smyslov_Fan God Member Correspondence fan Offline Progress depends on the unreasonable man. ~GBS Posts: 6902 Joined: 06/15/05	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #11 - 07/04/10 at 04:06:30	Post Tools	Print Post
	bump


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Smyslov_Fan

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Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level?
Reply #10 - 07/03/10 at 22:17:42

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I just ran into a buzz-saw of an idea against Avrukh's main line:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cb5 a6 5.ba6 Ba6 6.Nc3 g6 7.g4 d6 8.Bg2 Bg7 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10. Rb1! (Avrukh) 0-0 11.0-0 Nb6 12.b3 ("obligatory", according to Avrukh, p. 211) Bb7 13. e4 and instead of 13...e6?!, which Avrukh considered ?! but didn't deign to give an improvement, my opponent unleashed

13...Nxe4!!? 14.Ne4 Ra2! And White is in deep trouble. I couldn't find any games that followed this line. White seems to be in serious trouble! Has anyone seen this line before, and what is the recommended riposte?

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Keano God Member Offline Money doesn't talk, it swears. Posts: 2928 Location: Toulouse Joined: 05/25/05 Gender:	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #9 - 06/08/10 at 09:54:45	Post Tools	Print Post
	Funny enough, Avrukh has some interesting ideas for Black also - I didn't find that chapter particularly discouraging for Benko fans.


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Markovich God Member Offline Posts: 6099 Location: Columbus, Ohio Joined: 09/17/04	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #8 - 05/04/10 at 13:46:38	Post Tools	Print Post
	Anyone wanting to play the Benko in the Open Section of a Swiss event, or similar, should take a close look at Avrukh's Volume 2 and figure something out. You could say that about any system I suppose, but this being a pawn sac, I would be especially concerned to have an antidote to Avrukh.

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Keano God Member Offline Money doesn't talk, it swears. Posts: 2928 Location: Toulouse Joined: 05/25/05 Gender:	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #7 - 05/04/10 at 13:40:51	Post Tools	Print Post
	Vallejo from Spain and the young Italian lad whose name escapes me but who has a very high rating have been using the Benko quite frequently recently. I still think its a sound opening well worth trying, but I think I agree with the earlier poster who said it was best to have another weapon against 1.d4 also.


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nimzo5 Junior Member Offline d4! Posts: 92 Location: USA Joined: 09/06/09 Gender:	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #6 - 04/16/10 at 01:49:43	Post Tools	Print Post
	At the club level it is extremely popular and probably scores well. I tend to reject it unless I am in the mood for it.

	1950 Fide - 2050 if you omit Sunday Morning first rounds
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Markovich God Member Offline Posts: 6099 Location: Columbus, Ohio Joined: 09/17/04	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #5 - 04/15/10 at 14:09:57	Post Tools	Print Post
	Nevertheless I think it's a pretty good weapon for us mortals.

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TN God Member Offline Posts: 3420 Joined: 11/07/08 Gender:	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #4 - 04/15/10 at 08:51:22	Post Tools	Print Post
	Easy question. It's because it's not considerely a completely sound defence by GMs, and Black lacks a complete antidote to the Rb1 lines. Even the old e4 lines are still considered slightly better for White. When, among 2600 GMs, only Tregubov, Felgaer and a few other guys play the Benko at present, it doesn't bode well for the popularity of the opening.

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parisestmagique Senior Member Offline I Love ChessPublishing! Posts: 473 Location: paris Joined: 01/24/06 Gender:	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #3 - 04/15/10 at 08:20:44	Post Tools	Print Post
	But Korchnoï, a great player, is known for his acid words for exemple : "It extremely rarely occurs to him to create something new on the chessboard." (About Anatoly Karpov.)


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nimzo5 Junior Member Offline d4! Posts: 92 Location: USA Joined: 09/06/09 Gender:	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #2 - 04/14/10 at 17:15:45	Post Tools	Print Post
	Korchnoi once stated to Ruben Felgar after crushing his Benko- "You don't give pawns to Grandmasters." Najdorf Mem. 2005.

	1950 Fide - 2050 if you omit Sunday Morning first rounds
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Zatara Senior Member Offline I Love ChessPublishing! Posts: 422 Location: Virginia Joined: 02/26/08 Gender:	Re: Why is benko not more popular at GM level? Reply #1 - 04/13/10 at 22:36:15	Post Tools	Print Post
	I think due to the Fianchetto variation. I think that is the variation Cox recommends as best in his book on 1.d4. Zatara


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