16 Mar 07
Since I've started responding with 1...d6 to 1.d4 I've noticed many more players using the move 2.c4 than I anticipated. I had planned to play 2...e5 when after pawn and queens are traded the position is even, with black having great drawing chances. This variation's ok, but kind of boring for my style. I've decided to take a look at the Benoni instead with:
1.d4 d6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 Nf6 4.Nc3
Anyhow, I have a choice, the Modern Benoni or the Czech Benoni. I don't really know anything about either of them so my questions are simple enough. First, which one's more active and...well volatile? Second, which is more popular today and why?
16 Mar 07
Originally posted by cmsMasterAfter d5 you can play e5 if you want. It can set you up better for a flank attack if you want it as f5 becomes possible later on. It's probably harder to play but I enjoy it. Makes the game even pretty quickly.
Since I've started responding with 1...d6 to 1.d4 I've noticed many more players using the move 2.c4 than I anticipated. I had planned to play 2...e5 when after pawn and queens are traded the position is even, with black having great drawing chances. This variation's ok, but kind of boring for my style. I've decided to take a look at the Benoni instead ...[text shortened]... which one's more active and...well volatile? Second, which is more popular today and why?
16 Mar 07
Originally posted by mannieThat's what I thought, if Topalov plays it though I assume it's completely playable - how's the theory load with it?
The modern Benoni is much more popular and more lively. Topalov is about the only world class player that uses it. The Cech locks the center with breaks only on the f- and c-files.
16 Mar 07
1 edit
If the Benoni gets locked up eg:
1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5 3.e4 d6 4.c4
I have tried ...f5?!
I've had some success, but not as much as I had hoped, the problem has been white has swapped off a lot of pieces and it had got drawish, but then for black maybe thats not so bad. Maybe an interesting line to try.
Anyone else got any comments/experience?
16 Mar 07
Originally posted by tiggeronvrb1.d4 d5 2.d5???? 😕 This ain't possible. 🙄 😲
If the Benoni gets locked up eg:
1.d4 d5 2.d5 e5 3.e4 d6 4.c4
I have tried ...f5?!
I've had some success, but not as much as I had hoped, the problem has been white has swapped off a lot of pieces and it had got drawish, but then for black maybe thats not so bad. Maybe an interesting line to try.
Anyone else got any comments/experience?
17 Mar 07
I like the Benoni alot, and it's easy enough to understand the ideas, but you should definitely pick up Watson's "Gambit Guide to the Modern Benoni". It's regarded by the Silman reviewers as one of the best opening books written. The theory is somewhat heavy though, because if you don't know it, you could die a horrible death. 😀 It's a risky but lively choice. You play the Dragon, so you know what this is like.
17 Mar 07
4 edits
Originally posted by cmsMasterBenoni is not bad opening, but I mprefer asnwer 1...c5 in first move. e.g. 1.d4 c5 2.d5 g6 delaying playing of d6 and e6
Since I've started responding with 1...d6 to 1.d4 I've noticed many more players using the move 2.c4 than I anticipated. I had planned to play 2...e5 when after pawn and queens are traded the position is even, with black having great drawing chances. This variation's ok, but kind of boring for my style. I've decided to take a look at the Benoni instead which one's more active and...well volatile? Second, which is more popular today and why?
17 Mar 07
Originally posted by cmsMasterAs a fellow KG player who also plays the Morra as white I don't shy away from sharp attacking lines and I find the Modern Benoni suits my style. True from time to time I mess it up and white gets a dangerous breakthrough with e5 but generally I have a sharp tactical game with good winning chances.
Since I've started responding with 1...d6 to 1.d4 I've noticed many more players using the move 2.c4 than I anticipated. I had planned to play 2...e5 when after pawn and queens are traded the position is even, with black having great drawing chances. This variation's ok, but kind of boring for my style. I've decided to take a look at the Benoni instead ...[text shortened]... which one's more active and...well volatile? Second, which is more popular today and why?
So play it, you won't regret it!
18 Mar 07
Originally posted by Dragon FireThanks for the responses guys, I just played my first Benoni in a 3-0 game on Playchess, it was an extremely difficult game for both sides:
As a fellow KG player who also plays the Morra as white I don't shy away from sharp attacking lines and I find the Modern Benoni suits my style. True from time to time I mess it up and white gets a dangerous breakthrough with e5 but generally I have a sharp tactical game with good winning chances.
So play it, you won't regret it!
[Event "Rated game, 3m + 0s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2007.03.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Energion"]
[Black "CMSMaster"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "1468"]
[BlackElo "1510"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2007.03.18"]
[TimeControl "180"]
1. d4 {2} Nf6 {3} 2. c4 {3} c5 {1} 3. e3 {1} g6 {4} 4. Bd3 {1} Bg7 {4} 5. Nf3 {
1} O-O {14} 6. d5 {1} e6 {5} 7. d6 {7} Nc6 {4} 8. e4 {5} Re8 {8} 9. e5 {1} Ng4
{5} 10. Bg5 {21} Qa5+ {5} 11. Bd2 {4} Qb6 {1} 12. Bc3 {2} Ngxe5 {7} 13. O-O {7}
Nd4 {19} 14. Bxd4 {8} cxd4 {0} 15. Nxe5 {2} Bxe5 {5} 16. f4 {2} Bg7 {3} 17. Nd2
{3} Qxd6 {5} 18. Ne4 {1} Qb6 {7} 19. Rb1 {8} a6 {8} 20. Kh1 {2} Qc7 {3} 21. c5
{7} b6 {4} 22. b4 {5} Rb8 {3} 23. Nd6 {3} Rf8 {3} 24. Rc1 {20} bxc5 {5} 25.
bxc5 {1} Rd8 {8} 26. Qg4 {8} Bf8 {4} 27. Ne4 {7} Qa7 {8} 28. Qg5 {8} Bb7 {6}
29. Nf6+ {8} Kg7 {2} 30. Nh5+ {2} Kg8 {2} 31. Nf6+ {19} Kg7 {5} 32. h4 {1} Be7
{2} 33. Nh5+ {2} Kf8 {3} 34. Qh6+ {1} Ke8 {2} 35. Ng7+ {1} Kf8 {2} 36. h5 {2}
Bf6 {2} 37. hxg6 {1} Bxg7 {1} 38. Qxh7 {1} Ke7 {
' Zeit (Lag: Av=0.85s, max=10.1s) . 1} 0-1
Clearly at the end under time pressure there I got myself into major trouble, in fact I deserved to lose this game because of it, but prior to that point I had the better game. My opponent played opening very strange, holding off on the move d5. I'm pretty curious about the move 6...e6, where I expected e4 to be his reply. Instead he played 7.d6, a move which I had previously considered for white as playable, though after considering the pressure black could put on the pawn with moves like Qb6/Bf8 I decided it wasn't necessarily white's best choice. Is the move d6 for white strong? And if so, is black better off stopping it by playing d6 before e6?
18 Mar 07
1 edit
Originally posted by cmsMasterMost of my Benonis follow the move sequence in Game 2505382 for the 1st 8 to 12 moves with good results. Whites deviations before move 7 are rare and (when they occur usually) result in black getting a better game.
Thanks for the responses guys, I just played my first Benoni in a 3-0 game on Playchess, it was an extremely difficult game for both sides:
[Event "Rated game, 3m + 0s"]
[Site "Main Playing Hall"]
[Date "2007.03.18"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Energion"]
[Black "CMSMaster"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A56"]
[WhiteElo "1468"]
[BlackElo "1510"]
[PlyCount "76" nd if so, is black better off stopping it by playing d6 before e6?
18 Mar 07
Originally posted by Dragon FireOk, good, that's what I thought, white's deviation surprised me really - there doesn't seem to be too much room for sidelines in the Modern Benoni. Great game btw, 33...Rxg3+! awesome move. 🙂
Most of my Benonis follow the move sequence in Game 2505382 for the 1st 8 to 12 moves with good results. Whites deviations before move 7 are rare and (when they occur usually) result in black getting a better game.