Benoni Defense

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Benoni Defense
Moves	1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5
ECO	A43-A44, A56-A79
Origin	German manuscript entitled Benoni by Aaron Reinganum (1825)
Named after	Hebrew: "son of sorrow"‎
Parent	Indian Defense
Chessgames.com opening explorer

Old Benoni Defense

The Benoni Defense is a group of chess openings generally characterized by the opening moves 1.d4 c5 2.d5 although Black's ...c5 and White's answer d5, are often delayed.

The most usual opening sequence for the Benoni is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5. Black can then sacrifice a pawn by 3...b5 (leading to the Benko Gambit). If Black elects not to sacrifice then 3....e6 is the most common move, though 3....d6 or 3...g6 are also seen, typically leading to main lines.

"Benoni" is a Hebrew term meaning "son of sorrow", originating from the perceived weakness of the backward pawn on d6.

Old Benoni

The Old Benoni most commonly arises in the line 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5 3.e4 d6. The Old Benoni may transpose to the Czech Benoni, but there are a few independent variations. This form has never attracted serious interest in high-level play, though Alexander Alekhine defeated Efim Bogoljubow with it in one game from their second match,in 1934.

Czech Benoni

In the Czech Benoni, also sometimes known as the Hromadka Benoni, after Karel Hromadka, Black plays 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5. The Czech Benoni is much more solid than the Modern Benoni, but it is also more passive. The middlegames arising from this line are characterised by much manoeuvring, as White will, in most lines, play to gain space in the centre and kingside, while Black looks to break with ....b7-b5 or ....f7-f5 after due preparation.

Modern Benoni

The Modern Benoni usually begins after the sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 or(Nf3/g3) c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 or 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6. The Modern Benoni is a risky attempt by Black to unbalance the position and gain active piece play, at the cost of allowing White a pawn wedge at d5 and a central majority. White usually plays for a central break with e5, while Black tries to effect ...b5. Black will fianchetto his king's bishop and castle short, playing for attack on the queenside with ....b7-b5 and in the semi-open e-file. White will play for a central initiative and simultaneously try to muzzle Black's counterplay.

Compared to the usual lines of the King's Indian Defense, Black's fianchettoed bishop is far more active, as it is not blocked by a black pawn on e5. However, not having the pawn on e5 makes White's center more fluid, and some of the sharpest ideas for White are based on a central breakthrough with e5. The Modern Benoni is thus a very combative and double-edged opening; indeed, it is one of the most risky defences to 1.d4. Some White players who prefer to steer clear of the highly theoretical main line's sharp battles decide to avoid the Benoni altogether; after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 they play 3.Nf3, which may lead to a quiet symmetrical variation of the English Opening.

Tal popularized the defense in the late 1950s and early 1960s by winning several brilliant games, though he largely gave it up after a shattering defeat inflicted by Viktor Korchnoi in the 1962 Soviet Championship at Erevan. Bobby Fischer occasionally adopted it, with good results, including a win in the significant third game of the 1972 world championship match against Boris Spassky.

Modern Benoni, Taimanov Variation

Czech Benoni

Often Black adopts a slightly different move order, playing 2...e6 before 3...c5, in order to avoid the Taimanov Variation, or 'Flick-Knife Attack',^[1] arising from the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8 Bb5+. 8...Nfd7 is considered the safest response to the check; 8...Nbd7 is also playable but more risky. Garry Kasparov, Joel Lautier and Vlastimil Hort have favored the Taimanov. When using the different move order, the white knight on f3 rules out this variation.^[2]

Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has many codes for the Benoni Defense.

Old Benoni Defense:

• A43 1.d4 c5

Czech Benoni:

• A44 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5

Benoni Defense:

• A56 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5
• A57-A59 (Benko Gambit) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
• A60 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6
• A61 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6

Fianchetto Variation:

• A62 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0
• A63 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7
• A64 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 Re8

Modern Benoni:

• A65 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4
• A66 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4

Taimanov Variation:

• A67 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Bb5+

Four Pawns Attack:

• A68 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0
• A69 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Be2 Re8

Classical Benoni:

• A70 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3
• A71 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Bg5
• A72 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0
• A73 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0
• A74 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 a6
• A75 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 Bg4
• A76 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8
• A77 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2
• A78 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2 Na6
• A79 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2 Na6 11.f3

See also

• Franco-Benoni

References

The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory has a page on the topic of Benoni Defense

Further reading

• Norwood, David (1995). The Modern Benoni. Cadogan. ISBN 9-197-60052-0. 
• Watson, John (2001). Guide To Modern Benoni. Gambit. ISBN 1-901983-23-4. 
• Psakhis, Lev (2003). The Complete Benoni. Sterling Pub. ISBN 0713477652. 
• Komarov, Dmitry; Djuric, Stefan; Pantaleoni, Claudio (2009). Chess Opening Essentials, Vol. 3: Indian Defences. New In Chess. ISBN 978-90-5691-270-3.