Exeter Chess Club: Steve Martinson on Benko Gambit

Benko Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5

 

tSlDjL-T
X-+xXxXx
-+-+-S-+
+xXp+-+-
-+p+-+-+
+-+-+-+-
pP-+pPpP
RnBqKbNr

Goals for White:

can gain the a-Pawn by accepting the gambit; KB will be a problem to develop -- playing g3/Bg2 is passive but safe; may want to break center with e4-e5; sharpest lines involve declining the Gambit

Goals for Black:

gambit gives lead in development and Queen's-side pressure, particularly against the White b-Pawn; as with all gambits, Black must effectively develop or the Pawn is wasted

Common continuations:

4. a4 b4 5. Nd2 g6 6. e4 d6 7. Ngf3 Bg7 8. g3 e6 9. Bg2 exd5 10. O-O

  Or 10. cxd5

10... O-O 11. cxd5 Ba6

 

tS-D-Tj+
X-+-+xLx
l+-X-Sx+
+-Xp+-+-
pX-+p+-+
+-+-+nP-
-P-N-PbP
R-Bq+rK-
Declined with 4.a4

 

4. Nf3 g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. Nc3 axb5 7. e4 b4 8. Nb5 d6 9. e5 dxe5 10. Nxe5 Bg7 11. Bc4 O-O 12. O-O Bb7

 

tS-D-Tj+
+l+-XxLx
-+-+-Sx+
+nXpN-+-
-Xb+-+-+
+-+-+-+-
pP-+-PpP
R-Bq+rK-
Declined with 4. Nf3

 

4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 g6 9. g3 Bg7 10. Kg2 O-O 11. Nf3 Nbd7

 

t+-D-Tj+
+-+sXxLx
-+-X-Sx+
+-Xp+-+-
-+-+p+-+
+-N-+nP-
pP-+-PkP
R-Bq+-+r
Accepted, Main Line

 

4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. g3 Bg7 9. Bg2 Nbd7 10. O-O Nb6 11. Re1 O-O

 

t+-D-Tj+
+-+-XxLx
lS-X-Sx+
+-Xp+-+-
-+-+-+-+
+-N-+nP-
pP-+pPbP
R-BqR-K-
Accepted, Fianchetto Variation
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This document (smop5.html) was last modified on 28 Jun 1996 by [cool blue cat]

Dr. Dave