Benko Gambit

Iv been toying with the idea of taking this up as my main defence to 1. d4. Does anyone play the opening and have practical experience of its play? Any recommended books, websites or famous games?

At the risk of further promoting a site that has been slandered recently in these forums, I'll note this annotated Benko game at my site: http://www.angelfire.com/poetry/wulebgr/leveretthouse.htm.

Be warned: as it is a free angelfire site, it carries noxious advertising, some of which may include malicious spyware. Do not penetrate the internet without proper protection, or you could become infected. In particular, sensible cookie management, and pop-up blocking can be critical to your computer's health.

I have played and still play the Benko gambit against good opposition but mostly only in my over-the-board games. I have beaten many good players with it; and have also suffered a few crushing blows. I will suggest to you 2 books : 1) "Winning with the Benko" by Byron Jacobs. Excellent to understand the ideas from the Black point of view and also very good for beginners or intermediate players for one main reason : It makes you believe that you are winning in almost every variation!!! Confidence is important when you start out, and so in this you will always believe in your compensation and so will not get discouraged. I still check my games against 1500-1700 players where I simply crushed them with my Benko; the reason was simple : I played confidently and NEVER got discouraged! Now, having a better "connaissance" of the downfalls of the opening, I find I have choked a plentifull number of very fine games. ( Mind you yes against a much tougher resistence!) When you exude confidence, your moves literally intimidate your opponents...NOT ARROGANCE, confidence! Before I end this thread to comeback in the future for the second book, I must warn you on one VERY important thing when adopting the Benko (or Volga; hey Europeens😉): NEVER, EVER, trust the opinion of your ches program in the opening!! You will lose confidence, not understand your long-term compensation, and give up the opening in literally a couple of days. Computers DON'T understand everything you know!😀 On this, good success with my pet opening. I might show you guys some of my victories over strong adversaries one day if I find out how to add non-site games in this forum...Thx and ciao for now, Mike2119.

Originally posted by mike2119
I have played and still play the Benko gambit against good opposition but mostly only in my over-the-board games. I have beaten many good players with it; and have also suffered a few crushing blows. I will suggest to you 2 books : 1) "Winning with the Benko" by Byron Jacobs. Excellent to understand the ideas from the Black point of view and also very go ...[text shortened]... one day if I find out how to add non-site games in this forum...Thx and ciao for now, Mike2119.

Ok I don't have much time cause i'm at work:'(, but I will continue this interesting thread on the Benko. First to tell you the second book : (Um, I'm at work so I'm not sure of the exact title) The Complete Benko Gambit from(this I'm sure😉) Stefan Pedersen. A GREAT book! Look through the analysis for BOTH sides, and then you will grasp the complexity of this vitrolic gambit. He really digs deep to explain the possibilities for Black, but also for White. After this book you will maybe be less confident, but you will understand this opening to it's deepest roots! Every single system, from pawn-muching to sacrificing one back, is covered to be ready for whatever White might dish out. TO answer the second part of your question ; I believe White has many intersting variations against the Benko depending if he is a positional minded player or an all out tactical monger! For the first type, the main alternatives are 5.b6!? and also the fianchetto variation with g3. For the "crazy" second type, there's the 5.e3 lines, the 5. Nc3 lines (these are simply sick if White plays the suggested Bc4!), the g4 lines and finally the "messed up" 5. f3!? lines. This is some crazy chess! Personally, love almost every variation because they always give place to some interesting tussle between queenside pressure and the understanding of when to push in the center. If White mates you on the kingside, you have failed somewhere! 😀 Finally, I will NOT suggest which variation to play with White (hey I do play this you know😉) but I will say this : In EVERY variation Black must be well prepared theorically, not fret material imbalances, love queenside pressure, and...MUST NOT FEAR AN ENDGAME!!! On this, back to work!😴 and...i'll be back for further explanations, opinions and maybe even games😏 Ciao friends, Mike2119.

MY, CAN'T GET ANYTHING BY YOU, NOW CAN WE.😵

Originally posted by mike2119
Ok I don't have much time cause i'm at work:'(, but I will continue this interesting thread on the Benko. First to tell you the second book : (Um, I'm at work so I'm not sure of the exact title) The Complete Benko Gambit from(this I'm sure😉) Stefan Pedersen. A GREAT book! Look through the analysis for BOTH sides, and then you will grasp the comple ...[text shortened]... i'll be back for further explanations, opinions and maybe even games😏 Ciao friends, Mike2119.

You probably wont be intrested mike2119, but im putting together an opening map for the Benko based on the MCO, databased games and insights from talking to Benko players. I'll put it here if you would like?

Hey Whitedeerwithnohorns (you know, my name is kinda easier to remember😉) I am interested with your initiative, great idea and do put it here if you have the time. Ok, now to answer some of your questions. 1) Benko at club level. Excellent! I raised my rating from 1400 to 2000 in over the board play with this opening. I believe to succeed with this opening you need two fine qualities over other club players : Excellent grasp of positional play and a talent for endgame play. These are not easy for average club players, so if you possess them; you will be a White killer with the Benko. Why it succeeds more at club level that at grandmaster level is very simple: Your opponent will think you don't know what you are doing and so he will not be prepared for the sudden change of events the Benko bestowes on him. A club player will think he had the advantage throughout the opening, and so will not see his debacle coming when he illmindedly enters an endgame KNOWN to be better for Black at grandmaster level. 2) Players at club level will absolutely NOT be prepared for the Benko, and yes this will destabalize them somewhat and like I said, they will think they have the advantage and so not see the latent danger coming! 3)Novelties: I have seen a bunch😉. Some interesting, others totally ridiculous. The best I came across would have to be the players that don't castle and throw there g,h (and even f sometimes😲) pawns at you hoping to mate you before you penetrate on the queenside. The anecdote; don't castle too fast, react swiftly in the center and, unlike me😳, don't take there attack too lightly. It could indeed be very dangerous! Here I send a warning to starting out Benko players: never EVER play one-mindedly without considering your opponents threats. Yes, your play is logical on the queenside but still, be ready to react in the center and even on the kingside if the situation need be! The few losses I have had with this opening came exactly because I lost sight of my opponents threats on my king while I was justifyably crushing them on the queenside. Be versatile!!! That being said, if you play logically and your opponent throws everything at you on the kingside WITHOUT HAVING PROPERLY COMPLETED HIS DEVELOPPEMENT AND/OR CONTROLLING THE CENTER then a refutation of his attack MUST exist. This is a rule in chess. An unjustified and premature attack should not work against correct play. So, don't choke unncessarily. Good luck to all, bye for now, Mike2119.

This is all seems very good but as with the Benoni N-f6 tends to be blacks first move against d4 but what happens if white plays b-g5, all the well laid plans then seem spoilt??? Any answers, how do u play the benoni or benko against 1)d4 N-f6 2)B-g5

Originally posted by Vladamir no1
This is all seems very good but as with the Benoni N-f6 tends to be blacks first move against d4 but what happens if white plays b-g5, all the well laid plans then seem spoilt??? Any answers, how do u play the benoni or benko against 1)d4 N-f6 2)B-g5

Well Vlad...YOU CAN'T!!! Bg5 rules completely out these possibilities or to any chance practically. But hey, what'S so bad of the Tropovsky? It's an opening like any other. That is why, you MUST have at least 2 or 3 openings against every White first move. To be versatile, unpredictable and also to adjust to any players style. I personnally have played every possible answer (logical of course 😛) against e4...e6,d5,c5,g6,b6,c6 etc...I guess you get the picture. So, against d4 prepare :1...e6 sometimes,1...d5 and all it's possibilities and yes why not even 1...c5. Who knows: it might yet transpose to a Benko after all! 😉

Originally posted by mike2119
Well Vlad...YOU CAN'T!!! Bg5 rules completely out these possibilities or to any chance practically. But hey, what'S so bad of the Tropovsky? It's an opening like any other. That is why, you MUST have at least 2 or 3 openings against every White first move. To be versatile, unpredictable and also to adjust to any players style. I personnally have pla ...[text shortened]... ilities and yes why not even 1...c5. Who knows: it might yet transpose to a Benko after all! 😉

Originally posted by mike2119
Hey Whitedeerwithnohorns (you know, my name is kinda easier to remember😉) I am interested with your initiative, great idea and do put it here if you have the time. Ok, now to answer some of your questions. 1) Benko at club level. Excellent! I raised my rating from 1400 to 2000 in over the board play with this opening. I believe to succeed with this open ...[text shortened]... against correct play. So, don't choke unncessarily. Good luck to all, bye for now, Mike2119.