1.Nf3 c5 and 1.c4 c5 with the idea of the Botvinnik is a really good approach. Black may not be able to reach a Benko Gambit, but can keep it in English waters and not be move-ordered into some other d-pawn defense. Of course black must be ready for a Sicilian after 1.Nf3 c5 2.e4.

I think the combination of Benko and Vienna is going to appeal to only a miniscule proportion of Benko players. Actually, if you took a poll "Benko plus fill-in-the-blank", I would predict Vienna does not even appear in the top twenty! I wonder if Dhopade can move that needle.

nestor wrote on 04/03/21 at 11:18:40:


There has also been discussion at Chessable about Swapnil's choice of the Benko/Vienna combo.  As best I can tell, its his own repertoire vs. 1.d4.  The point is to cover both 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 and 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3.  

I haven't seen any info on whether he covers the flank openings or, if he does, what lines he gives.  I think you are right that if he's giving the Vienna, he ought to give something vs. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.g3.  But 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 may be different stories.  

      

I think that if I discovered that the best I had against 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 was to offer transpositions to other, arguably more respectable 1.d4 systems, then I'd just give up the Benko and play the other systems full time. The main lines of the Benko aren't really all that typical or fun nowadays anyway.

nestor wrote on 04/03/21 at 07:49:49:


Hi Nestor.

Have you seen any mention of the lines being covered? I only ask because not all the chessable repertoires against d pawn openings appear to cover 1. Nf3 & c4 (or even the sidelines a d-pawn player may use) For example the one on the QGA by Sopiko  I think doesn't - it just appears to provide a narrow repertoire for just the QGA itself. 

While Benko players do like those things, I don't know whether it is still the practical experience. Judging by comments over the last few years in the benko threads and the chess theory sections it looks as if the recommended lines in practice have become a bit more torturous for black players. (Chess explained's Benko book on Chessable several years ago was I think criticised by some players because they were still approaching the opening in the traditional way and appeared to be not aware that the theory on it had moved significantly putting black in difficulty in several of the lines.)

Some Benko books give the Kasparov Gambit as a line against the English, but that is only usable against certain move orders. It would be nice to see a repertoire for black against the English that would include that. I hope Nestor is correct and that the course he mentions covers a broader repertoire for black. 

Well I don't think 1.c4 g6 is a good way to reach a Benko, because after 2.d4 black has been move-ordered. Also 1.Nf3 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5 5.cxb5 a6 6.e3 might be problematic for black, in the 5.e3 system black is usually advised to play more sharply than 5...g6.

But anyway I think the OP was asking something else:

• IF you are a Benko player,
• AND you have a second defense to 1.d4; 
• THEN what is that defense and how does it answer 1.c4 / 1.Nf3?

I do think it's generally advisable to have more than one defense to both 1.e4 and 1.d4 -- one sharper and one solider. But I'm not sure 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 a6!? (or 3.Nf3 a6) is it. For one thing the exchange variation is quite straightforward, 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 c6 6.Bf4 and black may equalize but it's not any easier than the more regular exchange variations. This 3...a6 is also vulnerable to move orders, for example 1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3, now after almost any black third move here white can transpose to a variation black did not intend to play. Top players don't worry about this, they go into the Catalan as black, but this is probably something a 3...a6 player didn't want.

I am partial to the QGA. Against 1.c4 probably 1...c5 is the way for QGA players, and this isn't too bad for Benko players either. Against 1.Nf3 I would choose 1...d5, but a Benko player might prefer 1...Nf6, when 2.c4 c5 is English, 2.d4 d5 3.c4 dxc4 is a QGA, and against other white second moves black has a choice of 2...d5 or 2...c5 or 2...g6 depending on mood.

Something to think about is 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4, which has a great reputation for black. Now you are on the other side of a Benoni, where your experience in the structure can pay off. And black is not necessarily going to play ...c7-c5, so there is no reversed Benko to worry about.

Hi.

I don't really play the Benko much but frequently the Benoni.

I have something in mind when facing 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3. One thing I've also done (with some success) is to go 1.d4 c5 when I've known the opponents to go for the English transposition.

As for English on the first move (1.c4) or Réti (1.Nf3), It's just gonna be a matter of taste what people play. Don't see the most natural transitions to Benko unless white literally goes 1.c4 Nf6 2.d4 or so. I guess 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d4 g6 4.d5 b5 could maybe become a Benko; although white players often tend to prefer 3.Nc3 to see what black intends.

When it comes to 1.Nf3 the only thing I have to say is that 1.Nf3 Nf6 cuts out lines where you go c5+Nc6+e5 before Nf6 while 1.Nf3 c5 allows the Sicilian (as noted previously).

Have a nice day.

Hi Benko players

I was wondering if you have a backup repertoire that transposes to 1.d4 and that you reach via 1.c4 and 1.Nf3 ?
Some Queen’s Gambit or Slav variation that enables to complement a Benko based repertoire ?

I am thinking of the 3...a6 Queens Gambit declined variation for instance
Nothing close to Benko lines still

Laurent