Benko gambit chess games

One common white plan is to play Rb1 , followed by a later a4 and b3, making the backwards b-pawn the only target. For example, a few games have continued 10… Bd2 Rfb8 Qc2 Nc7 A possible continuation might be 5…d6 6. Nc3 g6 7.

Nf3 9. Be2 Qxb6 Nd2 Nbd7 White can also decline the Benko Gambit by not taking the b5 pawn in the first place, for example with 4. This line is covered in the video above! The Benko Gambit is an interesting positional pawn sacrifice that black can play in the opening.

Thanks for reading! Skip to content. YouTube page opens in new window. Benko Gambit. Benko Gambit Accepted — Early e4 1. Nc3 Bxa6. Benko Gambit Accepted: g3 Line 1. White returns the pawn, rather than trying to hold onto it. The c4 knight is a powerful piece, but black could later aim for pressure down the b-file.

Conclusion The Benko Gambit is an interesting positional pawn sacrifice that black can play in the opening. Will you allow me to help you on your chess journey?

Enter your email address to sign up for free! Black's goal with this opening is to convert easy development into queenside pressure. The ideal development for Black looks like this with the light-squared bishop sometimes traded off depending on how White plays :. When White fully accepts the Benko Gambit, the position almost always looks like this by move six:. At this point there is some room for White to vary, and it largely depends on the question of developing the bishop on f1.

White can also decline the gambit in the first place, which will be discussed below as well. Black's goal is always the same: quick development and queenside pressure.

This move allows Black to play Bxf1 and White loses the right to castle. However, White will generally "castle by hand" by playing g3 and Kg2 at some point. White plays this move to develop the bishop while maintaining castling rights, and also leaving Black's light-squared bishop blocking the rook's view of the a-file. Statistically, this is White's best move, but not enough to replace 7. White can also delay the decision to be made about the bishop by developing the knight to its best square.

It will still be incumbent on White to develop the f1 bishop soon, of course. The standard way to decline the gambit is to capture on b5 but not on a6, generally by playing 5. Instead of giving Black two open files on the kingside, White allows just one, hoping to reduce the pressure.

Sometimes White doesn't even take on b5. There are many ways to do so, with fun names like the Sosonko or the Pseudo-Samisch, but 4. Nf3 is the main line.