Originally posted by cmsMasterAfter 1 d4 d6 2 c4 e5 3 de de 4 Qd8 Kd8, Black has a lot more than "great drawing chances." Black is probably better because White's c-pawn impedes active development of White's f-bishop.
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?
If he's not "better" (a bit of an overstatement on my part) there is still alot of fight left in the position and both sides still have winning chances. GM Joel Benjamin analyzed this variation in a 1996 (late 1995?) Chess Life article.
Originally posted by DeepThoughtAnything wrong with avoiding the Taimanov by playing a6 before Bg7? I.e 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 c5, 3.d5 e6, 4.Nc3 exd5, 5.cxd5 d6, 6.e4 g6, 7.f4 a6
The difficulty with the Benoni is the Taimanov variation (8. Bb5+) which is what I normally hope to play and have good results with. The waffle in MCO says that theoretically black has no way to achieve equality and has to take refuge in complications.
Can white simply play 8.e5? (doesn't look too promising at first sight)
(That's in case anyone is unconvinced by the refutations of the Taimanov on this thread 🙂)
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Originally posted by jl1000try it and find out. 🙂
Anything wrong with avoiding the Taimanov by playing a6 before Bg7? I.e 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 c5, 3.d5 e6, 4.Nc3 exd5, 5.cxd5 d6, 6.e4 g6, 7.f4 a6
Can white simply play 8.e5? (doesn't look too promising at first sight)
(That's in case anyone is unconvinced by the refutations of the Taimanov on this thread 🙂)
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Originally posted by gaychessplayerWhy play an opening which isn't really sound on in the first place!? (Taimanov variation, not transponing into a nimzo by 2...e6)
I think it was John Nunn who said many years ago that if God played God in the Modern Benoni that White would win, but Black has excellent practical chances at lower levels.
I don't think that I am a strong player but I assume that most weak players aim to be strong players. By that I feel that playing exclusively the Benoni vs 1.d4 could hinder you since you often have to climb upphills if white is playing ambitiously and knows what he's doing. To me 66% as average for white in the Taimanov seems quite a good reason not to play black in that variation. Still I encourage players to play agressive and tactical openings to develope their tactical skill.
Originally posted by bikingvikingI don't think white would score 66% against 9.Qh5+ on a large scale - say 200 games.
Why play an opening which isn't really sound on in the first place!? (Taimanov variation, not transponing into a nimzo by 2...e6)
I don't think that I am a strong player but I assume that most weak players aim to be strong players. By that I feel that playing exclusively the Benoni vs 1.d4 could hinder you since you often have to climb upphills if whit ...[text shortened]... I encourage players to play agressive and tactical openings to develope their tactical skill.