Benko Gambit [A5759]

Written by GM Glenn Flear & GM Jon Tisdall

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For an opening that really loses a pawn, the Benko Gambit has a terrific reputation.
It is just as feared as it is respected, and many prefer not to take the offer, thanks just the
same. One can understand why taking the pawn gives Black a very easy life in many
respects.
At minimal cost, Black gets two open files to aim down, a compact and ultrasolid
pawn structure, and a packaged giftbox of clearcut strategical plans and manoeuvres.
One superficial move by White often results in oppressive threats followed by a flurry of
tactical blows. Losing (or for optimists, "returning") a pawn later doesn't tend to blunt the
black initiative, and often means the same kind of pressure for free.
White players have three basic things to look forward to: Attacking Black's king
while most of his team is rummaging around on the other side of the board
Causing central damage with a properly timed advance of his epawn to e5. And,
most satisfying of all: QUEENING HIS aPAWN. Yes, it does happen.
I think that pretty much covers the basic pros and cons.

2
History
In its modern form, (in very early days the move order was often a prelude to a kind
of Blumenfeld) players like Vaitonis and Lundin can lay claim to being the pioneers, and
Bronstein played an impressive early game on the Benko theme. Incidentally, the Russians
like to call the gambit the Volga. One of my favourite anecdotes centres around the theme
of the name of this opening. I was playing in a telephone match in New York when Pal
Benko himself, playing Black, was given the opportunity to play the gambit. From the
enthusiastic way he hammered out the move 3...b5 on the board, you could tell that it was a
rare pleasure doubtless most of his opponents didn't allow it too often. John Fedorowicz,
another expert on the opening, was watching as Pal gleefully thumped out the move, and
uttered the immortal words, "Hey, Pal, I didn't know you played the Volga Gambit,"
momentarily paralyzing Benko and rendering him speechless. He finally managed to yell,
"That is a political question!" before accepting the humour of the moment. It probably is a
political question, but most do call it the Benko, and it is a sophisticated gambit. One of the
most attractive aspects of the opening is that in its pure form it is extremely easy to play,
with very clearcut ideas.


All the games given in blue can be accessed via ChessPub.exe, simply head for their
respective ECO code.

3
Contents

1 d4 f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5
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4 cxb5
4 f3 Benko Gambit Declined [A57]
4...a6 5 bxa6
5 e3 Benko Gambit 5 e3 [A57]
5 f3 axb5 6 e4 Benko Gambit Other lines [A57]
5 b6 Benko Gambit 5 b6 [A57]
5...g6 6 c3 xa6
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7 f3

4
7 e4 xf1 8 xf1 Benko Accepted with Kxf1 [A59]
7...g7 8 g3 d6 9 g2
Benko Accepted without Kxf1 [A58]


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5
Benko Gambit Declined [A57]

Last updated: 23/08/03 by Glenn Flear
By declining the Benko, White indicates that he is intending to fight for the initiative in the
early stages. White often breaks open Black's position with an early e5 thrust.
1 d4 f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 f3
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4 d2 bxc4 (4...g6 5 e4 d6 6 b4!? A bold new idea that leads to lasting pressure on the
queenside, but if black reacts logically he should achieve enough counterplay.
Garcia Palermo,CGiardelli,S/Pinamar ARG 2001) 5 e4 d6?! (5...b7 6 xc4 e6 7 gf3
was an interesting pawn sac in Mastrovasilis,ANeuronov,L/Halkidiki GRE 2000
5...e6 6 dxe6 dxe6 7 xc4 b7 8 e2 bd7 9 gf3 c7 10 b3 d6 11 b2 e5!? 12 b5+ e7
with an unclear position was. Beliavsky,ASermek,D/Bled SLO 2000 5...c3!? 6 bxc3
g6 7 c4 d6 8 b2 g7 9 d3 0-0 10 c2?! e5 11 e2 bd7 and Black had no worries in
Kludacz,MRadziewicz,I/Brzeg Dolny POL 2000) 6 xc4 g6 7 b3 g7 8 b2 0-0 9
gf3 a6? 10 0-0 c7 11 c2 a5 and White had a fine position with e5 looming in
Serper,GMiton,K/ Philadelphia USA 2000
4 c2 bxc4 5 e4 e6 6 xc4 exd5 7 exd5 d6 8 c3 e7 9 h3 0-0 10 f3 bd7 11 0-0 b6
and Black was fine in Kempinski,RMiton,K/Zakopane 2000
4 a4 English GM Chris Ward has stuck with this move throughout the years. White forces
Black to make a decision. 4...bxc4 (4...b4 So Black opts for a closed queenside, his
most logical choice as White doesn't have the c3square for his knight nor the option
of a2a3 to open the afile. 5 d2 e5 Another blocking move. The onus is now on
White to try and find a way through on the three kingside files, not an easy task as
Black will be ready and waiting. 6 b3 d6 7 b2 g6 8 g3 g7 9 e4 a5!? Not played to
emphasize how blocked it all is, but to prepare an interesting manoeuvre. 10 g2 a7

6
11 h4 e7 12 f3 h5 Ward,CSkjoldborg,J/Copenhagen 2003 (August 2003) The front
narrows. Now it's only the 'f' and gfiles that White can use for action. White has a
slight space advantage and hopes to eventually be ready to create a pawn break but
this looks optimistic!) 5 c3 d6 6 e4 a6 7 f4 g6 8 e5 fd7 9 f3 g7 10 e2 0-0
11 e6 b6 12 exf7+ xf7 13 g5 with a doubleedged position in Ward,C
Summerscale,A/Birmingham ENG 2000
4 e4 xe4 5 f3 a5+ 6 d2 d6 7 cxb5 b7 8 h3 a6 9 b6 c4 10 f4 g5 11 b4 with
bizarre complications was Shchukin,DGubajdullin,A/St Petersburg RUS 1999
4 f3 A contributor to the Forum was bamboozled by this move, apparently recommended
by Angus Dunnington in a recent repertoire book. Although the move is not that
wellknown (as early as move 4) play soon follows patterns set by similar Benko
lines. The following set of game snippets should indicate how to obtain counterplay
with ...Nb6 and\or ...e6.
a) 4...g6 5 e4 d6 6 cxb5 a6 transposes to a line (normally resulting from 4 cxb5 a6 5 f3)
where Black has difficulty equalizing: 7 c3 (7 a3 g7 8 e2 0-0 9 c3 bd7 10 e2
b6 11 0-0 e6 12 dxe6 xe6 13 g5 h6 14 h4 axb5 15 axb5 c4 PoluljahovShashin,
Russia 1991 and now Karpov suggests 16 c1 intending b3 and\or Rd1.) 7...g7 8 a4
0-0 9 a3 axb5 (9...e6!? may worth a try.) 10 xb5 a6 11 ge2 xb5 12 xb5 a6
13 0-0 c7 14 ec3 and White had an edge in V.AnandM.Adams, Roquebrune
rapid 1992
b) 4...bxc4! The most consistent. 5 e4 d6 6 xc4 (6 d2? g6 7 xc4 g7 8 e2 bd7 9 a4 0-0 10
a5 e5 and Black was already in the driving seat in Henriques,SGonzalez
Gil,E/Lisbon POR 2000. 6 c3 g6 7 f4 g7 8 f3 0-0 9 xc4 bd7 10 0-0 b6 with ...e6 in
the air. 6 a3 c3! offers Black reasonable prospects e.g. 7 bxc3 g6 8 d3 g7 9 e2 0-0
10 0-0 bd7 11 c4 a6 12 e3 a5 N.AlfredJ.Brustkern, Budapest 2002) 6...g6 7
e2 g7 8 0-0 0-0 9 g5!? (Otherwise 9 ec3 bd7 10 a4 b6 11 e2 a5 12 b5 a6 13
1c3 fd7 14 f4 xb5 15 xb5 b8 16 e3 c7 with chances for both sides, U.Von
HermanD.Bischoff, Altenkirchen 2001) 9...bd7 10 d2 b8 11 b3 e5 12 h3
fd7 13 c1 b6 V.BasagicJi.Nun, Hartberg 1991 and Black is pretty active. (e
mailbag March 03)
4...g6
4...b7
a) 5 c2 bxc4 6 e4 e6 (6...g6 7 xc4 g7 8 c3 0-0? 9 e5! e8 10 h4! and White already had a
dangerous attack in Conquest,SDegraeve,J/Clichy 20th anniversay, France2001) 7
g5 and White was on the way to achieving a good Blumenfeld in Cramling,P
Fernandez Romero,E/Malaga ESP 2001
b) 5 c3?! A radical way of forcing Black's hand with the bpawn. 5...b4 6 a4 (The
retreat 6 b1 should be met with 6...e6 hitting back at the centre before White can
support it.)
b1) With the knight stuck on a4 and not likely to return to the action for a while, Black can
take his time to obtain counterplay, as in the following examples
6...d6
b1a) 7 e4!? bd7 (7...xe4 8 d3 gives White rapid development but the epawn may be
missed later) 8 d3 g6 9 0-0 g7 10 f4 g4 11 e2 0-0 12 h3 ge5 13 d2 f5?!

7
(13...e6 14 e3 exd5 15 exd5 f5= is better) 14 exf5 xf5 15 e3 g5 led to a Black win in
Sokolov,IVan Wely,L Wijk aan Zee 1999 but in this position White can win a
pawn with 16 g4!
b1b) 7 c2 7...g6 8 e4 g7 9 d3 0-0 10 0-0 e5 11 b3 h5= Nosenko,A
Solodovnichenko,Y Kharkov 2002 Black has no worries and can prepare for ...f5.
b2) 6...e6 7 dxe6 (7 d6?! is dubious as White is in no position to support such an advanced
pawn.) 7...fxe6 8 g5 a5 9 b3 e4 Gokhale,CZhang Pengxiang/Mumbai IND
2003 (May 2003) I would be very happy with Black who has already dissolved the
centre and has the more effective development.
c) 5 bd2 5...bxc4 6 e4
c1) 6...e6 7 dxe6 dxe6 8 e5 d5 9 xc4 The text combined with White's next is too slow to
worry Black. (9 xc4 intending 0-0 and Ne4 is more dangerous, however after 9...e7
10 0-0 0-0 11 e4 in order to neutralize White's attacking chances against the Black
king it's appropriate to seek the exchange of queens e.g. 11...b6 12 d3 c4 13 c2
xd1 14 xd1 a6 15 a3 c5= Neidhardt,CAlber,H Germany 1988) 9...e7 10 a3 0-0
11 d3 c6 12 e2 b6 13 0-0 xc4 14 xc4 c7 15 e1 ad8 Hoang Thanh
TrangFogarasi,T/Budapest 2003 (July 2003), White hopes to profit from the pawn
wedge on e5 and his superior pawn structure on the queenside. However White finds
it hard to develop and coordinate his pieces effectively
c2) 6...a5 7 xc4 d6 8 0-0 bd7 9 e2! A simple preparation for drastic action. 9...c7
10 b4!?
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A tremendous move accepting the pawn leaves black facing tremendous pressure on: the
long diagonal (after ...cxb4 11. Bb2), a breakthrough on e5 which will also open the
efile and pressure e7, the cfile, and the entry of the Nf3 into his guts via d4. The
sad part for black is that rushing to complete development doesn't help much either.
Radjabov,TSalmensuu,O/Torshavn FAI 2000.
4...a5+ 5 c3 Very unusual Bd2 is the standard reply, followed by Qc2 and e4. It is
interesting to see a superGM's spin on this by developing the Nb1 to an odd
square he gets the new possibility of playing a3 very quickly, and this is rather
inconvenient for Black. Sokolov,IShevelev,A/ICC INT 2001.
4...bxc4 5 c3 g6 6 e4 d6 7 xc4 g7 8 e5 dxe5 9 xe5 0-0 10 0-0

8
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10...b7 (10...fd7 11 xf7! xf7 12 d6 with a complex and unbalanced position in
Bosboom,MKristjansson,S/Hafnarfjordur ISL 1999 10...e8 11 f4 and White was
probably a bit better in Radjabov,TPoulsen,M/Torshavn 2000) 11 b3 b6 12 e1
a6 13 g5 xb3 14 xb3 with a nice edge for White in Conquest,S
Stanojoski,Z/Euro Team Champs 1999.
5 c2
The sharper version 5 cxb5 a6 6 c2 has been played by Korchnoi amongst others.
5...g7
After 5...a6!? Black's results in practice have not been encouraging. Szabolcsi,J
Adrian,C/Bischwiller FRA 2001.
6 e4 0-0
Black logically aims for ultrarapid development as White loses time with both 5 Qc2 and
the inevitable capture on b5.
6...d6 Too routine. 7 cxb5 0-0 8 c3 a6 9 a4 This slow, but firm grip on the extra queenside
pawn, is well met in analogous positions by a quick ...e6. Black does well to open up
the game as he is ahead on development and has the safer king.
a) The best shot at justifying being a pawn light is 9...e6! 10 dxe6 xe6 11 e2 d5!
(11...axb5 12 xb5 d5 is less accurate as White can play 13 0-0 as the knight can drop
back to e2 in the case of 13...d4 Dao Thien HaiFogarasi,T Budapest 1986 when
White played this knight round to f4 and kept the advantage.) 12 exd5 xd5 13
xd5 xd5 14 0-0 axb5 15 xb5 f5 16 e2 c6 17 d1 d4 18 xd4 cxd4 with
reasonable compensation, Gorelov,SKishnev,S USSR 1985
b) 9...axb5?! This just leads to easy development for White. 10 xb5 a6 11 0-0 xb5 12
xb5 a6 13 d2 b6 14 c3 fc8 15 d2 The threat is Nc4 with a firm grip and
goodbye to any pretense of Benkostyle compensation. Black therefore tries to mix
things. 15...c4?! 16 xf6 (16 d4 also looks good.) 16...xf6 17 xc4 with a clear
advantage to White Galyas,MPitl,G/Budapest 2003 (July 2003)

9
7 cxb5
7 e5 g4 8 f4 d6 leaves White in danger of becoming overextended.
7...b7
7...a6 8 c3 b7! with ...e6 in mind.
8 c3 e6 9 d6 a6 10 e3
Black was doing well in the following game
10 d3 axb5 11 xb5 a6 12 d2 b4 13 xb4 cxb4 14 c7 c8 15 c4 e8 16 xb4
xd6! Campos Moreno,JCalzetta,M Pamplona 2002
10...axb5 11 xb5
11 xc5?! allows 11...c8! 12 b4 xe4
11...b6?!
I recommend 11...a5 12 d2 g4 13 e2 xe3 14 fxe3 c6 when Black will have
sufficient compensation for his pawn due to the bishop pair and White's ugly
structure.
12 a4 c6 13 0-0 d4
as in Hoang Thanh TrangPrusikhin,M/Budapest HUN 2003 (May 2003) where Black had
good compensation.

10
Benko Gambit 5 e3 [A57]

Last updated: 20/06/02 by jt
The 5 e3 line of the Benko encourages Black to regain the gambit pawn if he wishes,
through 5...Bb7 6 Nc3 axb5 7 Bxb5 Qa5 when the d pawn is hard to defend. In many
lines, White finds ways to hand back the pawn but maintain pressure on Black's
central pawns. However, Black is not without his chances.
1 d4 f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 cxb5 a6 5 e3
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5...axb5
5...g6 6 c3 g7
a) 7 c4 0-0 8 f3 Surprisingly rare, but an obvious and seemingly perfectly reasonable
move. Nenashev,ASalmensuu,O/Groningen NED 1999
b) 7 f3 0-0 8 a4 b7 9 e4 e6 Seemed to be quite promising, trying to exploit white's rather
slow plan in Keatinge Clay,ALee,A/San Francisco USA 2000.
c) 7 bxa6 0-0 8 f3 d6 9 e4 bd7 10 h3 xa6?! 11 xa6 xa6 with a typical Benko,
except that White has gained a tempo by only moving his king's bishop once.
Kallio,HVajda,A/Budapest HUN2001
d) 7 e4 d6 (7...0-0!? 8 a4 b7 9 e5 e8 10 f3 d6 11 f4 a5!? This appears to be a new move,
though the provocative idea of inserting the black queen into b4 has been seen
before. 12 e2 b4 13 d2 d7 with very sharp play, Estremera Panos,S
Vasilev,M/Cutro ITA 2002 ) 8 f3 0-0 9 a4 b7 10 e2 axb5 11 xb5 e6 12 dxe6
fxe6 13 e5 A thematic strategic nasty White returns the pawn in order to inflict

11
lifelong structural ugliness on Black's pawn formation. Graf,AVaisser,A/Ohrid
MKD 2001
e) 7 a4
e1) 7...0-0 8 a3 b7 9 f3 e6
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10 dxe6 fxe6 11 d6 c8 12 e2 and Black may seem to be a pawn down with a horrible
position, but appearances can be deceptive, as in Georgiev,KRogers,I/Biel 1993 (12
b4?? losing on the spot occurred in Danilov Navrotescu, Romanian Champs 2001)
e2) 7...b7 8 c4 e6!? 9 e4 axb5 10 xb5 exd5 11 exd5 0-0 12 ge2 a6 and Black's
position is better than it looks, Zimmerman,YVajda,S/Budapest HUN 2000.
5...e6 6 c3 exd5 7 xd5 b7 8 xf6+ xf6 9 f3 e7 10 bxa6 xa6 11 e2 b4 12 a3
a) 12...e4 13 0-0 c2 14 b1 (14 d2 xa1 15 xe4 e6 when White may be able to work
up extra compensation for the exchange while Black is coordinating his position?
Something worth considering for players interested in venturing either side of this
variation.) 14...b4 (14...xa3?? 15 a1) 15 a1 is a draw by repetition. I find this
rather odd Halkias is a very well prepared player who is also a Benko aficionado
as black. Was he really caught out so early in a line of his own choosing? Or has he
puzzled something out in the possibility mentioned above?
b) 12...g6 An interesting moment according to theory 13 0-0 c2 14 d3 e4 15 xe4
xe4 16 b1 e1 Other knight discoveries on b1 can be met with Nd2. 17 d2
xf3+ 18 xf3 xf3 19 gxf3 d5 20 c3 Halkias,SSzieberth,A/Cappelle la
Grande FRA 2002.
6 xb5 a5+
6...a6 7 xa6 xa6 8 c3 g6 9 e4 b8 with typical Benko compensation for the pawn.
Almond,RPalatnik,S/Hastings ENG 1999
7 c3 b7 8 ge2
8 d2 b6 9 c4 e6 10 b3 xb3 11 xb3 a6! This is the move which keeps the line
very much alive for Black as in Zimmerman,YChernin,A/Hungary tt 1999.
8 e4 xe4 9 ge2 xc3 (9...d6 10 d3 xd5 I can't say I find this very easy to believe for
white a pawn down and centerless for some development. Nguyen Anh Dung

12
Kallio,H/Budapest HUN 2000 ) 10 xc3 a6 11 d3 and White had dynamic play
to compensate for Black's structural advantage in Kraai,JEhlvest,J/San Francisco
USA 2000.
8...xd5
8...xd5 an interesting alternative to the more usual capture with the knight occurred in
Babula,VStocek,J/CZE 2000.
9 0-0 xc3
9...c7 This more solid alternative to capturing the knight was tested in Shapiro,D
Annakov,B/New York Open 2000.
10 xc3 e6 11 e4 e7
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12 a4
12 h5 with chances for both sides was Groffen,HGommers,R/Belgium 2000.
12 f4 0-0 13 d3 was OK for Black in Keatinge Clay,AEriksson,J/Budapest 2000.
12...0-0 13 f4 d8 14 d6 c6
and Black had good chances of a longterm edge in Kekki,PNyback,T/Helsinki 2001.

13
Benko Gambit 5 b6 [A57]

Last updated: 23/08/03 by Glenn Flear
When White plays 5 b6 keeping the Queenside partially closed, Black has two main options
to continue with Queenside play as usual, or to break open the centre with e6.
1 d4 f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 cxb5
4 f3 g6 5 cxb5 a6 6 b6 xb6 7 c3 d6 8 e4 bd7 9 e2 (9 d2 g7 10 c4 a7!? the
queen is sometimes less exposed here than on the standard c7square,
Azmaiparashvili,ZVan Wely,L/Bled SLO 2002) 9...g7 10 d2 c7 11 0-0 0-0 12
a4 and White was a little better in Portisch,LMalakhatko,V/Istanbul TUR 2000
4...a6 5 b6
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5...e6
5...a5!? 6 c3 a6 This is the point behind Black's fifth move. If White now plays quietly
he risks finishing up in a typical Benko Gambit position, with the rather serious
difference that White is without an extra pawn.
a) 7 f4 d6 8 f3 bd7 (8...xb6 9 e4 xf1 10 xf1 g6 11 e5! with a clear initiative in Zueger,B
Polgar,J/Biel 1987) 9 e4 xf1 10 b7! This zwischenzug proved effective in Blees,A
Markus,J/Hoogeveen NED 1999
b) 7 f3 Black should have no problems after this routine move. Kosasih,CRogers,I/Bali
INA 2000
5...d6 6 c3
a) 6...bd7 7 a4 (7 e4 g6 8 a4 xb6 9 a5

14
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9...b4 A little feint to draw white's rook forward. The loss of time is probably mutual, but
black gains some potential tactical advantages by ensuring the white rook lingers on
the afile, as white's queenside is slightly more exposed. 10 a4 b7 11 f3 g7 12 h3
with perhaps a small edge for White was Van Riemsdijk,HGiardelli,S/Pinamar
ARG 2001.) 7...xb6 8 e4 g6 9 a5 bd7 10 f4 g7 11 c4 0-0 12 f3 e8 This
knight manoeuvre is thematic when White has played a5 Delemarre,J
Baklan,V/Brussels BEL 2000
b) 6...g6
b1) 7 f3 g7 8 e4 bd7 (8...0-0 9 b3 b7 10 a4 a5 11 d2 turned out well for White in
Sokolov,IVestly,J/Panormo GRE 2001) 9 e2 (9 a4 xb6 10 a5 b8? 11 h3 0-0 12 c4
and White was in the driving seat in Chiburdanidze,MSlobodjan,R/Lippstadt GER
2000) 9...0-0 10 h3 xb6 11 f4 e8!? A slick plan Black clears the path of the
darksquared bishop and the fpawn, and goes to pressure d5 from c7. Lautier,J
Topalov,V/Cala Galdana ESP 1999
b2) 7 e4 7...g7 8 a4 xb6 9 a5 b4 10 a4 b7 11 c4 (11 f3 0-0 12 d2!?N e6!? with an
unbalanced position in Hillarp Persson,TConquest,S/Torshavn FAI 2000) 11...0-0
12 ge2 (if 12 f4?! the standard continuation is 12...d7 13 a3 b4 14 d3 b5 with
good counterplay) 12...d7 Winning back a tempo and preparing ...Bb5.
b2a) Again after 13 a3 Black can continue with 13...Bb5, but 13...b4 14 d3 b5 15
xb5 axb5 16 f3 (16 d2?! bd7 17 0-0 e5 favours Black, Mikhalevski,V
Hendriks,W Dieren 1998) 16...c4 17 e3 fd7 is even more dynamic,
Grabarczyk,MBelotti,B Forli 1995
b2b) 13 a2 13...b5 (It's a matter of taste but 13...b4!? 14 d3 b5 deserves serious
consideration.) 14 b3 bd7 15 f4
b2b1) or 15...fb8 16 0-0?! (16 d3!=) 16...xc4 17 bxc4 b3 18 d3 b4 and Black was
already on top, Amura,CScarella,E Buenos Aires 1994
b2b2) 15...ab8 16 d3 xc4 17 bxc4 c7 (now 17...b3? is strongly met by 18 b2) 18 0-0
b3 19 b2 fb8 Markus,RMartinovic,S/Szombathely 2003 (August 2003) White's
central preponderance is counterbalanced to some extent by control of the bfile,
but if White can organize his pieces (to prepare e4e5 for instance) his position will
be preferable.
5...xb6 6 c3 g6 7 e4 d6 8 f3 g7 9 d2 0-0 10 e2 a5 (Black can try and do without
advancing his apawn e.g. 10...bd7 11 0-0 c7 12 a4 b8 13 a5 e8 14 c4 e5 15 f4

15
xc4 16 xc4 a7 17 e2 c7 18 e3 d7 19 e5 b4 with counterplay, V.Moskalenko
V.Tukmakov, Wijk aan Zee 1992) 11 c4 d8 12 0-0 bd7 13 g5 a4 14 c2 b6
15 e3 a6 16 xa6 xa6 17 f4 and White has an edge due to his grip on the
centre, Shabalov,AFedorowicz,J/Seattle USA Ch. 2003 (Feb 2003).
6 c3 xd5
6...b7 This is an interesting and less theoretical alternative to the heavily analysed Nxd5.
Pedersen,CMikhalevski,V/Politiken Cup 2000.
7 xd5 exd5 8 xd5 c6
You should be aware of the transpositional possibilities in this line. It is possible to reach
key positions at around move 15 via various different move orders.
9 f3 b8
XIIIIIIIIY
9trlwqkvltr0
9++p+pzpp0
9pzPn+++0
9+zpQ++0
9++++0
9+++N+0
9PzP+PzPPzP0
9tRvLmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

9...e7 It seems that this is inaccurate, as shown by Gleizerov,EMellado Trivino,J/Spain
2000.
10 e4
10 e5!? f6 11 xc6 dxc6
a) 12 e4+ e7 13 g3 f5 (13...xb6 14 g2 e6 and Black had dynamic compensation for
his pawn weaknesses in Hovmoller,KBoehlke,C/Copenhagen DEN 2000) 14 a4
d4 and Black's pieces were very active in Akobian,VDe Vreugt,D/Yerevan ARM
2000.
b) 12 f3 12...e7 13 d2
b1) 13...xf3!? 14 exf3 and White's superior pawn structure will give him the advantage if
he can quell Black's early initiative, (Capturing towards the centre with 14 gxf3 makes
sense: 14...f6 15 c3 xc3+ 16 bxc3 xb6 however looks playable.) 14...f6 15 c3
xc3+ 16 bxc3 0-0 17 c4 e8+ 18 d2 f5 19 ae1 ed8+ 20 e3 g5! and Black
was better as White's king is a serious problem, CrouchTrent,/Yateley Manor 2001.

16
b2) 13...xb2 Black should seriously consider avoiding this move: 14 c3
b2a) 14...c2?! I don't like this move, e.g. 15 xg7
b2a1) 15...g8 can be met by 16 xc6+ d7 17 c7 d8 18 e5 when White is obviously
better. (but not 18 b7?? xg7 19 b8 c3+)
b2a2) 15...c4!? 16 c3 (16 xh8?? b4+) 16...a4 17 b1 g8 18 e5 b7 19 e4 e6 20
e2! (20 b2 can be met with 20...a5 threatening ...b4) 20...xa2 21 a1 b3 22 0-0
xc3 23 xc3 xb6 The smoke clears and White is nominally a pawn down.
However Black's queenside is not going anywhere whereas White has a mobile
majority, so in practise it's almost as if White has the advantage in material! The
game continuation suggests that White is better, but doesn't have it all his own way,
Shabalov,AAdamson,R/Las Vegas USA 2002.
b2b) 14...xb6 15 e4!? (15 xg7 led to advantage for Black in Deiler,PDegraeve,J/Metz
FRA 2000 ) 15...e6 16 g3 g8 17 e2 f6 18 0-0 with enough compensation for
the pawn, ParkerClaesen, Mondariz 2000
10 d2 xb6 (10...e7 11 c3 0-0 12 e4 xb6 13 c4 b4 14 d2 b7 A sensible move which
seems to be new, as hard as that is to believe, Vladimirov,EMikhalevski,V/Italy
2000.) 11 c3 b4 12 d2 d5 (12...b7!? 13 a3 d6 14 e3+ e6 15 d2 d5 and Black
appeared to be comfortable in Gallagher,JDegraeve,J/Metz FRA 2001) 13 a3 d4 An
interesting and dynamic pawn sac. Hoffman,AVittorino,C/Cali COL 2000
10 g5 is an unusual move that has been receiving some attention recently, Ivanisevic,I
Degraeve,J/Bled SLO 2002.
10...e7 11 c4
11 d2N 0-0 12 c3 xb6 13 e2 d6 14 0-0 e6 15 d2 h6 16 fd1 fd8 and Black
should be OK. Krush,IPetersen,T/Torshavn FAI 2000
11...0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9trlwqtrk+0
9++pvlpzpp0
9pzPn+++0
9+zpQ++0
9+L+P++0
9+++N+0
9PzP+zPPzP0
9tRvLmK+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

12 0-0
12 d2 xb6

17
a) 13 0-0 A remarkable idea, White just ignores his bpawn in order to centralize quickly.
13...d6 (13...xb2 14 c3 b6 15 ad1 Black must solve the pressure on the dfile, but
this proved difficult in Thorfinsson,BZueger,B/Ohrid MKD 2001) 14 h5 xb2!?
15 ad1 and White had plenty of play for the pawn. Khurtsidze,N
Cramling,P/Shenyang CHN 2000.
b) 13 c3 13...b7!?N A very interesting alternative to the standard plan of trying to get
control over d5 via e6. 14 d2 b4 15 0-0-0 xe4 (15...d6 was also unclear in Roos
Lazarev, Italy 2000) 16 xd7 with an unclear position in Krush,I
Gunnarsson,J/Torshavn FAI 2000.
12...xb6
A critical moment.
12...a5 13 d3 xb6 14 h5 b7 (14...d5 and White had a promising position in
Lomineishvili,MVasilevich,T/European Women's Team Championships 2000.) 15
d2 d6 16 ad1 and White was a little better in Dreev,ABanikas,H/Greece
2001.
13 h5 d6 14 b3 e6
The alternative 14...f6 15 g5 xg5 16 xg5 e8 17 f3 e6 is the most solid,
Doroshkievich,VSolozhenkin,E, Chigorin Mem. 2000 as White will have difficulty
to exploit the Black pawn structure without a knight.
15 xe6 fxe6 16 g4 c8 17 b2 f6 18 xf6
Known is the sharper 18 e5 dxe5 19 ae1 b4 20 g3 e4 21 xf6 xf6 22 d2 which left
Black with ragged pawns. However after 22...g6 23 c3 d4 24 xe4 d5 25
xc5 d4 26 b4 a5 27 a3 c6 28 f3 b5 29 b3 xa3! 30 xa3 axb4 31 xb4
xc5+ 32 xc5 xc5 Bagirov,RVuckovic,Bo., Istanbul Ol 2000 Black had been
able to equalize and a draw was agreed.
18...xf6 19 d2 g6 20 h3 h6 21 d3 d5?!
21...e5 22 c3 f8 was the more patient and practical try. Black is probably OK but he
has to be more careful as his pawns are a little sensitive after 23 ad1
22 exd5 b4 23 c3 xd5 24 e5
with a positional advantage to White, Dreev,ABellon Lopez,J/Swedish tch. 2003 (April
2003).

18
Benko Gambit Other lines [A57]

Last updated: 27/08/02 by jt
Here we consider White's other counters to the Benko when White allows Black to
recapture the pawn on b5, namely the systems with Nf3, Nc3 and f3.
1 d4 f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 cxb5
4 f3 g6 5 cxb5 (5 c2 g7 6 e4 0-0 7 cxb5 a6 8 c3 e6 9 dxe6 fxe6 10 e5 h5 11 e4 a7 and the
Black position had much dynamic potential in Tregubov,PGreenfeld,A/Neum BIH
2000) 5...a6 6 c2!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvltr0
9++pzpp+p0
9p++snp+0
9+PzpP++0
9++++0
9+++N+0
9PzPQ+PzPPzP0
9tRNvLmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

This is a rare move but it makes a lot of sense. Besides attacking the c5 pawn, White
supports the e4 advance without having a knight attacked. This is a very critical
option in the currently fashionable Benko Refused with 4. Nf3. White wants to play
e4 and then just leave his pawn on b5, which has had good results. (6 c3 axb5 7 d6 is
not seen too often. 7...b7 8 xb5!? is new 8...a5+ 9 c3 exd6 10 d2 with a tricky and
complex position, Radjabov,THalkias,S/Halkidiki GRE 2002 )
a) 6...d6 7 e4 g7 8 c3 (8 a4 0-0 9 a3!? White announces that he would like to take back
on b5 with the apawn, and so is ready to develop his Bf1 without worrying about
losing a tempo ( for example Be2xb5). Black responds to the lack of a Nc3 by
steering play into BenkoBlumenfeld territory. 9...bd7 10 e2 e6 with complex play
in Kozul,ZNjirjak,J/Bizovac CRO 2001) 8...0-0 9 a4 axb5 10 xb5 a6 (10...a6 11
a3 and White must have a good Benko. Georgiev,VWornath,K/Bremen GER
2001) 11 0-0 b4 and White had what seemed like an ideal Benko in Hoffman,A
Giardelli,S/Pinamar ARG 2001.
b) 6...xd5 7 xc5 c7 8 xc7 xc7 9 b6 d5 10 c3 xb6? led to problems for Black
in Agdestein,SPrusikhin,M/Bad Wiessee GER 2000

19
c) 6...b6 A rare line that deserves a closer look. Ernst,SDe Rover,Y/AKN Weekender
2001.
d) 6...axb5 7 e4 a5+ with complex play occurred in Bareev,ETopalov,V/Sarajevo BIH
2000.
4...a6
4...e6 From the Benko into the Blumenfeld! This is a an accelerated form of the popular 5
c3 exd5 6 xd5 b7 7 xf6+ xf6 8 f3 d5 It's hard to believe that Black has
enough for his pawn here. On the other hand, he can now develop all his pieces to
good central squares without being bothered too much by White. The hanging pawns
also have dynamic potential. Hochstrasser,MAbbasifar,H/Golden Sands BUL
2000.
5 f3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvltr0
9++pzppzpp0
9p++sn+0
9+PzpP++0
9++++0
9+++P+0
9PzP+P+PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

A line which used to be very popular, and which I was quite fond of as White myself for a
while.
5 c3 A line for maniacs. 5...axb5 6 e4 b4 7 b5 d6
a) 8 c4 A tricky but ultimately unimpressive variation.
a1) 8...g6 9 e5 dxe5 10 d6 a6?! 11 f3! exd6 (11...g7 12 xe5 0-0 13 c6 d7 14 xe7+
h8 15 xc8 fxc8 16 0-0+ Mensch,ECapit,F France 1996 ) 12 g5 h6 (12...e7!?
12...b7 13 xe5!) 13 xe5! Eklund,JNitz,T/Oxford ENG 2002.
a2) 8...bd7!? A reaction worth noting against this move order black heads immediately
to hit the Bc4. 9 f3 b6 10 b3 xc4 (10...xe4!? Von Alvensleben,WLorenz,S
Germany 1995 GERchT2. ) 11 bxc4 a6 (11...xe4!?) 12 d2 g6 13 0-0 g7 14
b2 0-0 Hoem,TGuddahl,V/NOR 2002.
b) 8 f4 8...g5

20
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvltr0
9++zpp+p0
9+zpsn+0
9+NzpP+zp0
9zp+PvL+0
9++++0
9PzP+zPPzP0
9tR+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

(8...a6 9 f3 xe4N is a recent idea which still requires further tests. Jobava,BDe
Vreugt,D/Yerevan ARM 2000. 8...bd7 another unusual alternative was seen in De
Haan Claesen, Belgian Interteams 1999 2000 8...xe4!? This relatively rare
option has scored well for Black so far, as in Vandevoort Weemaes, Belgian
Interteams2000-2001)
b1) 9 xg5 xe4 10 f4 f6! was tried out in Arencibia,WIvanchuk,V/Cap d'Agde
1998(10...g7 leads to difficult and highly theoretical play, as in Dias Gunnarsson,
2000 Olympiad.)
b2) 9 e3 9...xe4 10 d3 a5 11 e2 with a doubleedged position in Ghane,S
Najafi,M/Fajr IRI 2001(The more rational 11 e2 was played in Chetverik,M
Papp,G/Hungary 2000 )
5...axb5
5...e6
a) 6 e4 exd5 7 e5
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvltr0
9++p+pzpp0
9p++sn+0
9+PzppzP+0
9++++0
9+++P+0
9PzP++PzP0
9tRNvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

The critical line, though a very risky business without being armed to the teeth (and perhaps
still then). Recapturing on d5 is quite possible. 7...e7 8 e2 g8 9 c3 b7 10
h3 c4 This move has by far the best theoretical pedigree. In fact, white has a pretty
wretched record in this variation.

21
a1) 11 g5 c5 12 a4!? led to uniquely mindboggling complications: 12...d4 looks
crushing, but quite possible too ambitious. (12...h6!?) 13 e4 b4+ 14 f2 d3 15
e3 xb2+ 16 g3 Sheldon,RSowray,P/Birmingham ENG 2002.
a2) 11 e3 11...axb5 12 0-0-0 b4 13 f4 e7
a2a) 14 f2 a5 turned out well for White in Lim Chuing HoongWong Zi Jing/Penang
MAS 2000(14...a6 may be good for Black. See Loetscher,R
Dell'Agosti,A/Christmas Open 2000 )
a2b) 14 b6 14...h5 15 xd5 xc3+ An amazing Queen sac. See the games Allemann,A
Costantini,R/Biel SUI 2001 and Lalic,BKhalifman,A/Linares 1997.
b) 6 dxe6 6...fxe6 7 e4 c4?! A bizarre novelty that won't be catching on. Paulsen,D
Pfretzschner,R/Seebad Heringsdorf GER 2000
5...g6 6 e4 g7!? I was rather startled to see this, but it seems to be quite popular with some
rather crafty players. Williams,LMatamoros Franco,C/Istanbul TUR 2000.
6 e4 a5+ 7 d2
7 b4!? xb4+ (7...cxb4 8 d2 e5 9 b3 b6 10 d3 a6!? 11 xb5 xb5 12 xb5 with some
advantage for White in Ulko,JKopjonkin,G/Voronezh RUS 2001) 8 d2 a4 9
c1 a7?! 10 xb5 a6 11 c3 and White was better in Simantsev,M
Gavrish,L/Kharkov UKR 2000
7 c3 b4 8 b5 d6 9 a4 bxa3+ 10 d2 b6 11 xa3 xa3 12 bxa3 and White had a
Queenside initiative in Hauchard,ASalmensuu,O/Ubeda ESP 2000
7...b4 8 a3 d6 9 c4 d8
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvltr0
9++zppzpp0
9+zpsn+0
9+zpP++0
9zpN+P++0
9+++P+0
9PzPvL+PzP0
9tR+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

9...a7 10 a4!? with chances for both sides in Urday,HMendoza,R/Cali COL 2000
10 e2
10 a3 e6 11 dxe6 xe6 12 axb4 xa1 13 xa1 d5 14 exd5 xd5 15 e5 was a new and
logical and reasonably logical attempt to cause trouble, but it fails to solve white's
basic problem in this subvariation, which is a serious problem completing
development. (15 b5 as in the notes to this game, is the most testing, though still very

22
risky.) 15...d6 16 b5+ f8 17 c4 xb4 18 xb4 cxb4 (18...xc4 with likely
complex and unclear play was Vioreanu,BMoraru,M/Sovata ROM 2001 ) 19 xd6
xd6 and White was roughly equal (0-1, 27) Dinev,DStojanovski,D/Skopje
MKD 2002.
10...g6 11 a3 bxa3 12 xa3
Oddly enough, a novelty.
12...xa3 13 bxa3 g7 14 a4+
and White gained the upper hand in Paulsen,DTrauth,M/Christmas Open 2000.

23
Benko Accepted without Kxf1 [A58]

Last updated: 23/08/03 by Glenn Flear
Here we look at Benko Gambit Accepted systems where White does not castle artificially,
concentrating on the very trendy fianchetto system with 10 Rb1. You should be
aware of flexible move orders resulting in the same position in the Fianchetto line.
1 d4 f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 cxb5 a6 5 bxa6 g6
5...xa6 6 c3 (6 g3 d6 7 g2 g6 8 b3 g7 9 b2 b6 10 f3 The N usually heads for h3 in this
line, because if it goes to f3 early then ...Bb7 can be annoying since Nc3 can be met
by ...Nxd5 and the Nc3 is pinned to the Bb2. Here however, the black queen on b6
would be hit after Nxd5, so white can try to develop more conventionally. 10...0-0
Black has sometimes tried to use the move ...c4 in connection with an early ...Qb6,
but the impact of this escapes me. 11 0-0 bd7 12 e1 b7 13 c3 fb8 14 b1 and it's
not clear that Black is getting anywhere. Kruppa,YKasparov,S/Kiev UKR 2000)
6...d6 7 f4 g6 8 f3 g7 9 e4 xf1 (9...0-0 was less logical in Miniboeck To Quoc
Khanh, 34th Olympiad 2000) 10 xf1 0-0 11 e5 with an unbalanced position in
Arencibia,WOcana Roca,J/Malaga ESP 2000.
The very unusual 5...e6 reaching a Benko /Blumenfeld hybrid was tried in Heinlein,R
Blasco,D/Italy 1999.
6 c3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvltr0
9++pzpp+p0
9P++snp+0
9+zpP++0
9++++0
9+sN++0
9PzP+PzPPzP0
9tRvLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

6 g3 d6 7 c3 (7 b3 g7 8 b2 0-0 9 g2 xa6 Black's trickiest option. 10 h3 b4 11 a3? This
position should be in the Benko player's repertoire of dirty tricks. 11...bxd5! 12 xd5
xd5 13 xg7 xg7 14 xd5 xh3 Marquez Molina,JBellon Lopez,J/Malaga ESP

24
2002.) 7...g7 8 e4? White becomes confused between two systems. Holis,H
Vuckovic,B/Korinthos GRE 2000
6...xa6 7 f3
7 g3 d6 8 g2 g7 9 h3 A line that has been surprisingly popular in recent months. I am
not quite sure why people play this as White ... one does avoid problems with the d5
pawn, and from f4 the sensitive d3 square is often monitored. But this line tends to
work best for White when he manages to get his knight back to a circuit involving
the f3 square. The distance from the d4 square allows Black to play for an effective
c5c4 more easily, since there is less or no danger of a knight arriving suddenly on
c6. 9...0-0 10 b1 (10 0-0 bd7 11 c2 a7!? 12 b3 a8 13 b1 b8 14 d1 ab7!? 15 d2
c4 and Black had got what he wanted in Aseev,KPonomariov,R/Ohrid MKD 2001)
10...bd7 11 0-0 a5 12 d2 fb8 13 c2 e8 14 b3 a3 and Black had an active
position in Korchnoi,VBaklan,V/Neum BIH 2000
7...g7
7...d6 8 d2 g7 9 e4 xf1 10 xf1 a5 11 d2 0-0 12 e3 with a typical Benko position
with chances for both sides in Bareev,EKasparov,G/Linares 1994
8 g3 d6 9 g2 bd7
9...0-0 10 0-0 bd7 11 e1 This has largely been replaced by lines with Rb1 which is
sensible really there is no clear reason to commit the f1 rook yet a hasty e2e4 is
often just an invitation for Black to start hopping his knights into contact with d3.
Pons,PFraga,J/ Mallorca ESP 2000
10 b1!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+wqk+tr0
9++nzppvlp0
9l+zpsnp+0
9+zpP++0
9++++0
9+sN+NzP0
9PzP+PzPLzP0
9+RvLQmK+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

The height of fashion, and the main focus of my regular fright report in the Benko. To a
certain extent this is a very sophisticated fear it requires both great theoretical
knowledge as well as dexterity in the position type as White, as he only gains a

25
"good" Benko. At many levels, this doesn't mean a huge amount, as most of the hard
work of converting this remains, and for the vast majority of humans, there is still
tremendous scope for White to go wrong as he tries to inch forward without
allowing Black's counterplay to flare up. 'Moving off the long diagonal and thus
preparing a timely b2b3. This move has only come into the fore in the last three
years, before that the fianchetto lines were considered benign, now this move has
made them essentially Black's most difficult line.'
10 0-0 b6
a) 11 e1 was Epishin's recent reaction to black's plan of ultraquick pressure on d5. This
is more like the older games in the g3 system. 11...0-0 12 d2 (12 e4 fd7 13 h4!? c4
14 f1!? a5 15 xc4 xc4 16 d2 and White was probably a bit better. (1-0, 39)
Epishin,VMatamoros Franco,C/Seville ESP 2002.) 12...c7 13 f1 (13 b1 b7 14
b4! Possibly an enormous novelty, and an amazingly obvious one really. Grigore,G
Costantini,R/Cesenatico 2000.) 13...g4 and Black must have been happy in
Averkin,OAlburt,L/URS 1974.
b) 11 h4 Defending the dpawn an additional time in order to prepare Qc2 and Rd1, but
is the knight really happy here?' 11...0-0 12 c2
b1) 12...e8 13 d1 c7 14 b1 a7 15 b3 f5!? Now we get a very odd mixture of Benko
and Leningrad Dutch. There is no real reason that that particular blend should be
promising, but it still leads to difficult play. Bareev,EBellon Lopez,J/Montpellier
FRA 2001.
b2) 12...fd7!? Ristic plays a new move avoiding the theory that has developed rapidly
since Karpov gave 11 Nh4 a try a couple of years ago. 13 d1 c4 On this square
the knight puts annoying pressure on White's queenside. 14 h3!? a7 15 b1 (15
b3?! is dubious in view of 15...a5) 15...a5 16 xd7 An interesting decision to
exchange off one of Black's knights, presumably Aleksandrov wasn't concerned
about any weakness to his lightsquares. 16...xd7 17 a4 Finally preparing b2b3.
17...b5 18 b3 a7 19 xc5!? with unclear complications, Aleksandrov,A
Ristic,N/Jahorina 2003 (July 2003)
b3) 12...d7 with a typical Benko position in Lautier,JBareev,E/Cannes FRA 2001 13
d1 fb8 (13...b7 14 a4 fb8 15 e4 e8 16 b3 also favoured White slightly in
Karpov,ARicardi,P Buenos Aires 2001) 14 b3 c4 15 e3 cxb3 16 axb3 b7
Lautier,JBareev,E World cup rapid 2001 and now 17 d4 leaves White on top.
10...0-0
10...b6
a) 11 a4?! b7 12 e4 a6 13 f1 Although White has had to play e2e4 and Bg2f1 rather
earlier than usual, it's not clear if this constitutes a major concession. Can Black
exploit this ugliness? 13...fd7 14 b5 c4!? 15 e3 xb5 16 axb5 a4! Direct but
after (16...0-0 the English junior probably feared 17 d4) 17 c2 xb2! with a
doubleedged struggle ahead Epishin,VJones,G/Deizisau GER 2003 (May 2003)
b) 11 b3
b1) 11...c8

26
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+tr0
9++zppvlp0
9snzpsnp+0
9+zpP++0
9++++0
9+PsN+NzP0
9P++PzPLzP0
9+RvLQmK+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

The idea is to provoke e4, when the bishop has a new career on a6. 'is an interesting plan to
try and exploit the early rook move to b1. The game Neverov,VVan der Weide,K
Cappelle la Grande continued as follows'
b1a) 12 e4 a6 13 f1 c8 14 d2 0-0 15 xa6 xa6 16 e2 e8 17 a4 xe2+ 18 xe2
f5= 1/2-1/2 Cvitan,OMatamoros Franco,C op Cannes FRA 1996 (29).
b1b) 12 d3 f5 13 e4 c8 14 c2 a6 15 f1 c8 16 b5+ xb5 17 xb5 a5!?
(otherwise 17...g4 18 d2 0-0 19 0-0 e2 offers compensation according to van der
Weide) 18 a4 g4 19 d2 h3 20 c3 xb5! 21 axb5 g2 with practical chances
for the exchange.
b1c) 12 h4 12...h6 13 c2 d7!? This is a very interesting idea usually Black has tried
to exploit the position of the Nh4 only after both sides have castled, when White has
time to cover the d5 pawn with Rd1. Here, White cannot prevent everything and
decides to return the pawn. playing e4 was an option, but Black should get
counterplay there as well. A very determined move, and probably the reason behind
the variations reappearance.
b1c1) 14 0-0 g5 regaining the pawn with an unclear position in Epishin,VHalkias,S/Ohrid
MKD 2001. Interesting that an authority like Epishin adopts such a timid approach.
b1c2) 14 b2 g5 15 f3 f5 (15...b7 16 d1 0-0 Now that g7 and h8 are no longer loose
black is hoping for a concession e4 protects d5 but allows ...Ba6, which is
annoying, and one of the points of the ...Bc8 idea. 17 0-0 White now threatens e4
when black is lacking in compensation having ventilated his kingside and failed to
mount pressure on the queenside. 17...fxd5 18 xd5 xd5 19 xg7 xg7 20 xg5
Regains the extra pawn and sending this particular idea back to the drawing board
for Black, Gustafsson,JKasparov,S/Deizisau GER 2002.)
b1c21) 16 e4 g6 Keeping pressure on e4 and d5. 17 0-0 0-0 Protecting g7 and creating the
threat of taking on d5. 18 d2 Originally Kasimdzhanov's improvement. The e
pawn is too hot to handle and White prepares e5. Kasimdzhanov,RVan der
Weide,K/Groningen NED 1999 (18 fd1 was tried in Breier Van Der Weide,
Young Masters 1999.) 18...g4!? The latest theoretical wrinkle. 19 fe1 f5 20 exf5
xf5 21 a1 is a duel between white's apawn and black's quick kingside initiative.
Wunnink,MWiersma,E/Amsterdam NED 2002.
b1c22) 16 d1!? moves up to main line status this subtlety prevents black from opening
up the kingside and considerably slows down counterplay. 16...0-0 17 0-0 g6 18 a4

27
f5 19 c1 h5 20 e1 and White seemed to have good control, Epishin,V
Piantoni,R/Bratto ITA 2002.
b1c3) 14 d2 when Black has some choice as to how to continue: 14...g5 (14...b7!? 15 e4
a6 is complex.) 15 f3
b1c31) 15...fxd5!? 16 xd5 xd5 17 xg5
b1c311) 17...hxg5 18 xd5 b7 19 xb7 xb7 20 f3 g4 21 c3 xc3+ (21...e5 is dodgy
after 22 0-0 gxf3 23 xf3 d5 24 bf1) 22 xc3 h7 23 b2 with an edge to White,
Fogarasi
b1c312) 17...b7! 18 f3 b4 19 xb4 cxb4 20 0-0 0-0 with the plan of pressurizing a2,
looks OK for Black (Flear).
b1c32) 15...b7?! 16 e4 a6 17 a4! 0-0 18 a5 c8 19 e5 Alexandrov,AVan der Weide,K
St.Vincent 2000 should be answered by 19...dxe5 20 xe5 c7 21 c6 d6 with
compensation according to Van der Weide but Fritz thinks that Black is busted after
22 a4
b2) 11...b7 This variation has the merit of making the Nf3 feel silly for a while, but black
has yet to find a very impressive way of doing something with the time it takes for
white to recoordinate his position. 12 h4 0-0
b2a) 13 a4! a7 14 0-0 a8 15 b5! gave White a dangerous initiative in Lalic,B
Vasilev,M Ubeda 2001
b2b) 13 b2 a7 (13...e8 14 d2 c7 15 0-0 xc3 16 xc3 f6 17 e4 xa2 18 a1 b5 19 d2 a8
20 f3 d7 21 d3 turned out better for White in Tunik,GFominyh,A St.Petersburg
2001) 14 0-0 a8 15 e4 fd7 16 a4 c4! with adequate counterchances, Jeremic,V
Nyback,T, Halkidiki 2001
b2c) 13 0-0
b2c1) 13...e8 14 c2 (14 d2!? A very interesting and straightforward plan that aims to
simplify the position if black plays for ...e6. 14...c7 15 e4 looked good for White in
Milov,VTregubov,P/Deizisau GER 2001 14 b2 xc3 15 xc3 Giving up that
beautiful bishop to regain the pawn is not the main idea of the Benko. Jussupow,A
Kersten,U/Altenkirchen GER 1999) 14...a7 15 d1 a8 and White should be
better. Levin,FSalmensuu,O/Groningen NED 1999
b2c2) 13...d7 14 b2 fc8 and Black's compensation for the pawn looked inadequate in
Slipak,SHoffman,A/Buenos Aires ARG 1999.
10...a5 11 0-0 b6 12 a3! showed a strong argument for leaving the B on c1 for a while
the possibility of a3+b4 can be very powerful Vanderstricht,G
Penttinen,J/Halkidiki GRE 2002.
11 0-0
11 b3 postponing castling, is a recent try from Epishin, who has a lot of experience in this
type of position. The new wrinkle provoked black into using a lot of time to trade
lightsquared bishops, something which he did not manage to justify, though the
plan may have more merit than displayed in the game. 11...b6 12 b2 c8 13 d2
f5 14 d1 c8 15 0-0 h3 16 fe1 xg2 17 xg2 b7 18 e4 fd7 19 h4 (1-0,
38) Epishin,VMensch,E/Bad Zwesten GER 2002.
11...b6

28
11...b6 12 b3 ab8 13 c2 fc8 14 d2 e6 An unusual reaction and hardly the most
principled. Piket,JBaklan,V/Neukoelln GER 1999
11...a5!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++trk+0
9++nzppvlp0
9l+zpsnp+0
9wqzpP++0
9++++0
9+sN+NzP0
9PzP+PzPLzP0
9+RvLQ+RmK0
xiiiiiiiiy

has become fashionable. Kramnik preferred 12 d2 (12 h3 A little slowlooking, but White
has an idea in mind. 12...fb8 13 c2 b6 14 d2!? Pantsulaia,LIzoria,Z/Nakhchivan
2003 (August 2003) Exploiting the fact that the d2square has been kept free, the
knight switches wings. Black's queen now gets more than her fair share of
harassment.) 12...fb8 (12...b7!? Black switches to central reaction, always a sharp
decision. Traditional pileeverythingup on the queenside tactics have had mixed
results: 12...b6 13 b3 a3 14 e1! and white used the availability of the c2 square to
roll black back and seize a clear edge in Dautov,RFelgaer,R/Port Erin IOM 2002.)
a) 13 b3 g4 (13...b7 14 a4 d8 15 e4 and Black's compensation was not apparent in
Epishin,VPikula,D/Zurich SUI 2000 13...a3 and Black had plenty of play in
Avrukh,BPonomariov,R/Batumi GEO 1999) 14 c2 transposes to 13 Qc2 Ng4 14
b3 below.
b) 13 c2
b1) 13...g4 14 a4 (14 fd1 c8 15 e1 de5 16 d2 h5 17 h3 h6 Yusupov,ANemet,I
Switzerland 2001 and now 18 f4 d7 19 e4 gives White an edge according to
Yusupov) 14...ge5 15 xe5
b1a) New is 15...xe5!? 16 b3 c4! Aiming for a positional queen sacrifice! 17 b4 xb4 18
a2 xb1 19 xa5 (19 xb1 c7 also looks satisfactory for Black who has
recuperated his pawn) 19...b2 20 c1 xa2 21 c3 xe2 22 e1 It's understandable
for White to want to oust this annoying rook but it doesn't seem to lead to anything.
Maybe because Black's remaining pieces are so well placed! Szeberenti,A
Predojevic,B Budapest 2003
b1b) 15...xe5 16 b3 d8 A small nuance on known theory but it doesn't ease Black's
defensive problems. (16...b6 17 h3 c8 18 h2 f5 19 e4 c8 20 e3 a6 21 fd1 a5 22
a2 c8 23 bc1 ab8 24 f4 Zayac,EPogonina,N, Serpukhov 2002 and White's
position is comfortable. Black has no real counterplay and must wait, though it's
never easy for White to find a convincing breakthrough.
Black also failed to equalize after 16...c7 17 fc1 b7 18 f1 ab8 19 h3 c8 20 b5! xb5 21
axb5 xb5 22 f4 d7 23 e4 d4+ 24 g2 b4! but still held the game in Epishin,V
Cheniaev,A, Nice 2002 as Black was able to blockade the darksquares despite the

29
exchange deficit.) 17 fe1 a7 18 h3 ab7 19 a2 White is ready to meet ...c4 with
the positionally desirable b3b4. 19...c8 20 f4 d7 21 h2 b6 22 e4!? A sharp
try, but the simpler (22 c3 and 22 a5 are both unpleasant for Black.) 22...xa4 23 e5!
(Much better than 23 bxa4 b2 24 xb2 xb2 when Black wins back the piece with the
more active game as White's second rank is weak.) 23...b6 24 c3 and White had
somewhat the better of it in Kramnik,VVan Wely,L/Monaco (blindfold) 2003
(April 2003).
b2) The immediate 13...d8 is recommended in Informator 81 e.g. 14 fd1 (but after 14 b3
b6 15 h4 b7 16 e4 a6 17 fd1 g4 18 h3 e5 19 e3 c8 20 f4 White was on top in
Lalic,BMatamoros,C, Seville 2000) 14...b6 15 e4 c4 16 c1 a5 17 b3 g4 18
a4 b5 with equal chances in Malakhatko,VRakhmangulov,A Alushta 2001
b3) 13...b6 14 b3 a3 This defensive plan used to be considered one of the most difficult
for White to counter. He has a repetition but playing with Bb2 is the critical way to
try for more. 15 c1 a5 16 d1 (16 d2 a3 17 c1 a5 18 d2= is unambitious but
take note if you are playing the Benko to win!) 16...e8 17 b2 c7 18 e4 c8 19
h3 d7 20 c1! a6 21 a1 c8 22 h2 f8! (22...a6 23 a3 with better play for
White who yet again slowly consolidates his extra pawn and prepares action in the
centre, Malakhatko,VAveskulov,V Alushta 2001) 23 e1 a7 24 e5!? (24 d1 was
agreed drawn in Kruppa,YMalakhatko,V Kiev 2001, the text is supposed to be an
improvement.) 24...bxd5 25 xd5 xd5 26 exd6 xb2 27 xb2 exd6 28 g5
Here Malakhatko considers White to be clearly better due to some ideas based on
Ne4 and threats of an eventual Nf6+. I decided to investigate further...
b3a) 28...c6? 29 ad1 (Instead 29 e4 d8 30 ad1 g7 looks solid enough for Black.)
29...b4 30 xc6 xc6 (30...xa2? 31 b1 xf2+ 32 g2) 31 e4 does seem to give
Black a hard time.
b3b) 28...c7! 29 e4 e8 neatly covers both weaknesses on d6 and f6 and offers White
nothing concrete. Black is more or less OK (Flear).
b4) 13...a7 14 fd1 c7 15 b3 e6 16 dxe6 fxe6 17 g5 e8 18 h3 looks dubious for
Black, Palacios PerezMascoro,M, Ayamonte 2002
b5) 13...e8
b5a) 14 b3 c7 15 a4 b6 16 fd1 a7 (16...f6!? Black's knights have exchanged flanks
but there's method in the mystical manoeuvres... 17 e1 e6 18 dxe6 xe6 the knight
recaptures virtually obliging e2e3 at some point. 19 e3 b7 20 bc1 d8 21 b5 e4 22
e2 d5 and Black had adequate play for once in Yusupov,AGhaem Maghami,
Yerevan 2001
This is a better shot than 16...b7 17 e4 a6 18 a2 c8 19 g5 h6 20 e3 b4 21 xb4 xb4 22
d2 b6 23 c3 Tunik,GPogonina,N Saratov 2001 which again strikes one as
simply better for White.) 17 e4 b6 18 g5 e8 19 a2?! (19 h3!) 19...e6! with
adequate counterplay, Gustafsson,JFogarasi,T/Budapest 2001
b5b) 14 fe1 14...c7 15 a4 b6 16 b3 xc3!? 17 xc3 xd5 18 e5 xe5 19 xd5 b7
20 xb7 xb7 21 xe5 dxe5 22 ec1 Kramnik,VTopalov,V/Wijk aan Zee 2003
gave White a pleasant edge (Feb 2003).
11...e8 12 e1 c7 13 e4 b5 14 e2 b6 15 e3 fb8 A remarkable bit of
provocation, this appears to lose by force, but the doubling on the bfile turns out to
give Black surprising tactical possibilities, Avrukh,BHendriks,W/Wijk aan Zee
NED 2000.

30
12 b3 a7
12...c7 13 e1 b7 (13...e6 An unusual idea akin to the Blumenfeld. San Segundo Larios
Crespo, Palencia 1999) 14 e4 ad8 with the idea of playing in the centre occurred in
Shraddha,SNejanky,M/Oropesa del Mar ESP 1999.
12...e8 13 b2 c7 14 h4 a7 15 d2 d7 16 fd1 b8 17 a1 c8 18 a4 was clearly
unsatisfactory for Black in KasimdzhanovGhaem Maghami, Yerevan 2001
13 b2
13 a4?! The oldest move it may have a long and respectable pedigree, but I believe this
gives black an unnecessary target on b3. 13...a8 14 h4 b8 15 b2
XIIIIIIIIY
9qtr++k+0
9tr+zppvlp0
9lsnzpsnp+0
9+zpP++0
9P+++sN0
9+PsN+zP0
9vL+PzPLzP0
9+R+Q+RmK0
xiiiiiiiiy

(15 e1 ab7 16 a3 g4!? with interesting counterplay, Johannessen,LDannevig,O/Roros
NOR 2002.) 15...c7 Sensibly improving the Rook. (15...bd7 and Black still needed
to demonstrate his compensation in Piket,JTopalov,V/Wijk aan Zee 1999.) 16 a1
with interesting play, Lugovoi,ASivokho,S/Petroff Memorial Open 2000.
13 d2!? a8 14 d1 b8 15 b2 and white's position was preferable, Johannessen,L
Djurhuus,R/Roros NOR 2002.
13 e1!? to unpin the epawn is yet another interesting new way to develop. 13...a8 14 e4
g4 15 b2 b8 16 h3 e5 17 xe5 xe5 18 c2 with a very thematic position
type, Alexandrova,OSchuurman,P/Varna BUL 2002.
13...a8 14 h4 b8
14...e8!? 15 c2 (15 d2 looks better.) 15...xc3 Regaining the pawn, but at what cost?
Zayac,ECramling,P/New Delhi IND 2000.
15 e1 c8
15...e8 16 a1 c7 17 e4 also left black wondering what to do in Epishin,V
Schuurman,P/Creon FRA 2002.
16 h3 and Black was searching for a plan in Epishin,VKopylov,M/Werther GER 2001.

31
Benko Accepted with Kxf1 [A59]

Last updated: 11/12/02 by Glenn Flear
Here we look at one of the most solid lines of the Benko, where White castles artificially
and allows Black an early initiative, hoping to capitalise on the extra pawn in the
long term. However Black should be able to generate sufficient play.
1 d4 f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 cxb5 a6 5 bxa6 g6 6 c3 xa6 7 e4 xf1 8 xf1
d6 9 g3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnwqkvltr0
9++zpp+p0
9+zpsnp+0
9+zpP++0
9++P++0
9+sN+zP0
9PzP+zPzP0
9tRvLQ+KsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

9 f3
a) 9...c8 A very interesting move order. This move discourages the g3 system by eyeing
h3, but commits the black queen to an odd circuit. 10 h3 g7 (10...a6+!?
Vasilevich,TFominyh,A/Alushta 1994 ) 11 g1 (11 g3 is also possible, if white
wanted to play that system h3 is hardly out of place.) 11...bd7 12 h2 0-0 13
e1 a6 14 g1 (14 e2!? fb8 15 g5 h6 16 xf6 xf6 17 c1 b4 18 cc2 h7 19 g3
ab8 20 g2 g7 21 h4 Nedobora,MFominyh,A/Noyabrsk 1995/.) 14...b6 15 c2
fd7 16 g5 Pinter,JHertneck,G/Dornbirn AUT 2002.
b) 9...g7 10 h3

32
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnwqk+tr0
9++zppvlp0
9+zpsnp+0
9+zpP++0
9++P++0
9+sN+N+P0
9PzP+zPP+0
9tRvLQ+K+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

Of the lines where white castles by hand, one would think that this was more logical than
playing g3, Kg2,h3. The move h3 tends to be very useful for hindering ...Ng4
possibilities. And surely g3 is a potential weakness, with the king and kingside more
exposed to counterplay on the ffile or on the long lightsquared diagonal if the
centre opens up? Yet practice indicates that the system with g3 is much harder for
black to meet. 10...0-0 11 g1 bd7 (11...a6 was tried in Camara,HBenko,P/Sao
Paulo 1973. 11...e6!? was the start of a remarkably romantic interpretation of the
Benko. 12 dxe6 fxe6 13 b3 c6 14 xe6+ h8 is the critical position White went
steadily downhill from here, but the question is whether black has enough for the
two pawns in any event he has plenty of activity and tricks. (0-1, 27)
Obermayr,HTeske,H/Aschach AUT 2001 ) 12 h2
b1) 12...b6 13 e1 fb8 14 e2 e8 (14...b7 15 c2 and White was very solid in Polak
Vogt, GER 1999) 15 g5 c7 16 c1 and Black still had to prove his compensation
in Szeberenyi,APhilippe,C/ Budapest HUN1999
b2) 12...a5 13 e1 fb8
b2a) 14 e2 e8 15 c2 b6 (15...c7 16 g5 with a probable edge for White was
Kuemin,SGuidarelli,L/Saint Vincent ITA 2001) 16 e2 a6 Black's most reliable
move. One of the bitter facets of white's existence in the Benko is that black often
invites an exchange of queens as this does not guarantee to help white reduce the
pressure against his queenside. This variation has never really been too impressive
for white. See Polak,TPetrosian,S/Bad Wildbad GER 2000
b2b) 14 c2 14...e8 15 d2 c7 with typical Benko potential. Gabriel,CSermek,D/Pula
CRO 2000
9 ge2 This is slightly offbeat, but contains some venom. Shulman Shwartz, World Open
2000.
9...g7 10 g2 0-0 11 f3 bd7
11...b6 12 e1 a6 Not the most popular prescription against white's system, but logical
enough, and one that has enjoyed reasonable results.
a) 13 d2!? b4 14 c4 a6 15 e2 fb8 16 f4 h6 (16...c2!?) 17 ec1 b7 18 a3
a6 19 ab1 and White eventually won rather easily as Black failed to find a
constructive plan. I can't help wondering if the opportunity to exchange knights by

33
playing ...c2 at an earlier juncture would not have eased Black's position, and the
desire to avoid this motivated Genov's new idea.
b) 13 b1N A new idea from Genov, who has played some interesting games in this
variation. He had an earlier try: 13...d7 14 f4 c4?! 15 e2 b4!? (15...fc8 16 e5)
16 xc4 fc8 17 e2 xa2 18 e5! Genov,PPap,M/Subotica YUG 2002.
12 e1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+wqtrk+0
9++nzppvlp0
9+zpsnp+0
9+zpP++0
9++P++0
9+sN+NzP0
9PzP+zPKzP0
9tRvLQtR+0
xiiiiiiiiy

This is one of the most common positions in the Benko.
12 h3 with:
a) 12...a6 13 c2 (13 g5 h6 14 d2 a8 15 e1 and White retained an edge in Karpov,A
Gelfand,B/Sanghi Nagar 1995) 13...a8 14 g5!? b8 15 he1 b6 16 ad1 turned
out well for White in Van Laatum,GTrent,L/Hastings ENG 1999.
b) 12...a7 13 e1 a8 14 e2 b6 15 c2 a4 with chances for both sides in
Popovic,DVuckovic,B/Kragujevac YUG 2000
c) 12...b6!? this is less wellknown, 13 e1 fd7 se Karpov,AAdianto,U/Cap d'Agde
FRA 2002.
d) 12...a5 13 e1 fb8 14 e2 e8 (14...b7 This move seems to be the most popular by
far. I will confess to not understanding why. 15 f4!? a6 This seems to make it
easier for white to unravel his queenside by taking pressure off c3. Korchnoi,V
Salmensuu,O/Reykjavik ISL 2000) 15 g5 with a doubleedged position in
Malich,BCiocaltea,V/Skopje Olympiad 1972, 15...xc3!? 16 bxc3 f6 17 d2 a4
18 e1!? (18 e1 c4 19 c1 c7 20 a3 b6 21 h4 Grabliauskas,V
Khalifman,A/Vilnius 1997 ) 18...b6 19 xa4 Now that black has blocked the b
file and this does not invite the rook in (because of the resulting pin on the bfile),
white trades. 19...xa4 20 c4 f7 (20...b2!?) 21 c2 c7 Varga,PVan der
Weide,K/Dornbirn AUT 2002.
12...a6
A very direct way of preparing for the e7e6 advance to attack White's centre. Black clears
a8 for his queen and at the same time defends d6 by putting his rook on the third
rank. This means that after e7e6 and White's reply d5xe6 White cannot play Qxd6.

34
12...g4 Considered by Hjartarson to be dubious, and this seems correct.
a) 13 e2 ge5 (13...a5 14 d2 xc3 15 c4 a6 16 bxc3 ge5 17 xe5 xe5 18 h6!? is an
interesting new subtlety in what had been considered a safe ending for Black,
Danner,GVan der Weide,K/St Poelten AUT 2002 ) 14 xe5 xe5 15 f4 with
advantage to White in Shishkin,VGasanov,E/Alushta UKR 2000
b) 13 f4 13...a5 14 h3 ge5 and Black developed typical Benko play in Wright,W
Fedorowicz,J/Philadelphia USA 2001
12...a7 13 e2?! (13 c2 a8 14 a4 A new move this variation has a reasonable success
rate for white, but few have been so bold as this. Gyimesi,ZHendriks,W/Groningen
NED 1999) 13...a8 and Black had typical thematic play though the Rook may be
better on a6. Van Driel,EErwich,F/Vlissingen NED 2000.
12...a5 One of the Benko's advantages is that the ideas are so clear. Develop, point the
rooks at white's queenside pawns, attack stuff ...
a) 13 e5 g4 14 exd6 exd6 15 f4 fb8 16 e2 a6 17 c1 ge5 18 xe5 xe5 19 xe5
xe5 20 b3 and Black should be OK. Van der Sterren,PTopalov,V/HUN 1998 (20
d2 and Black probably had enough for a pawn in Gyimesi Salmensuu, Young
Masters 1999)
b) 13 g5 13...h6 14 xf6?! xf6 15 d3?! fb8 with tremendous Queenside pressure in
Parr,DBrowne,W/Adelaide 1971
12...b6 13 e2 a7 White has weakened his hold on d5 somewhat by moving his queen
away from d1. Therefore it makes sense for Black to prepare an attack on the white
centre by clearing the a8 square for his queen. 14 d2 a8 15 b3 e6! 16 dxe6 fxe6
and Black had pressure on the centre and down the ffile in Gnidash,A
Kostiuk,T/Kharkov UKR 2000
12...c7 13 h3 fb8 14 e2 b4 15 a3 b6 with typical play in Gurevich,MDe
Vreugt,D/Wijk aan Zee NED 2001.
13 h3
13 e5 g4!? Theoretically this has the reputation of a blunder, but it looks like a very
interesting novelty. Surjadnji,AKasparov,S/Tanta City EGY 2001
13 e2 An interesting development white does not see the need to invest a tempo in
playing the customary h3. 13...a8 14 g5 h6 15 xf6 This fits in with white's play
so far, by eliminating the knight white has no need to consider h3. Typically, white's
dark squared bishop is hard to employ in the Benko accepted, while the black Nf6
has plenty of things to do. Still, the absence of a bishop will eventually make itself
felt, so this transaction is not without its liabilities. Huzman,AAvrukh,B/Ramat
Aviv/Modiin ISR 2000.
13...a8

35
XIIIIIIIIY
9q++trk+0
9++nzppvlp0
9r+zpsnp+0
9+zpP++0
9++P++0
9+sN+NzPP0
9PzP+zPK+0
9tRvLQtR+0
xiiiiiiiiy

14 g5
14 e2 b8 15 c2 with a balanced game in Zakaria,FKer,A/Auckland NZL 2000
14 d3 A rare move but it has its points. Diotallevi,MKrivoshey,S/Italy 2000.
14...h6
14...b6!? A straightforward thematic novelty, simply to shift the Nc3. Shishkin,V
Malakhatko,V/Ukraine 2001.
15 d2 e6 16 dxe6 fxe6
Black's broad centre and his potential for attack down the f file give him a promising game.
17 c2
17 a4 g5 18 a3 and Black had plenty of play for the pawn in Korchnoi,V
Cramling,P/Marbella ESP 1999
17...g5
This introduces the idea of 18...g4 19 hxg4 Nxg4 increasing the pressure on the f file.
18 a4
18 b5? After this there is no longer any hope of restraining the Black pawns.
Stojanovic,MihVuckovic,B/Yug 2000.
18...d5

36
XIIIIIIIIY
9q++trk+0
9++n+vl0
9r++psnzp0
9+zpp+zp0
9P++P++0
9+sN+NzPP0
9zPQvLzPK+0
9tR+tR+0
xiiiiiiiiy

19 e5!?
A risky new move in this sharp variation.
19...d4?
A feeble reply, this lead to a clear White advantage in Shishkin,VAverjanov,A/Rubinstein
Open 2001.