In this post, we consider the Benko Gambit. The main idea of the Benko Gambit is to sacrifice by blacks of a pawn early to gain long-term positional compensation on the queen-side, rather than a quick tactical knockout
1. d2d4, g8f6.
2 c2c4, c7c5.
3. d4d5, b7b5.
4. c4b5, a7a6.
5. b5a6, g7g6.
6. b1c3, c8a6.
7. e2e4, a6f1.
8. e1f1, d7d6.
Despite having one pawn less blacks can move Bishop: f8g7 and then castle to improve the position.
The Benko gambit sacrifices a pawn to gain long-term pressure on the open a- and b-files.
Take into account that blacks first move in the Benko gambit is the same as in Alekhine’s defense (g8f6).
The Benko gambit, named for GM Pal Benko, is a popular opening. However, it is a bit unusual as gambits go. Blacks, not whites, gives up a pawn for long-term positional compensation.
Benko first played “his” gambit against Gross in 1968. 3...b7b5 was named after him, despite the fact that the fundamental ideas had already been discovered earlier. He was the first player who consistently played it at Grandmaster level, thereby contributing a great deal to the development of its theory. He published his analysis in “The Benko Gambit” (RHM Chess, 1973).
Pal Benko (Hungarian: Benkö Pal, 1928 – 2019) was a Hungarian-American Grandmaster, prolific composer of endgame studies, and author. He had his biggest successes in the late 1950s and the 1960s, twice qualifying for the Candidates Tournaments in 1959 (played in Bled, Zagreb and Belgrade) and 1962 (Curacao). Benko set a record, by finishing first or tying for first in eight US Open Championships.
The fundamental strategy of the Benko Gambit in a nutshell:
-Sacrifice the b-pawn to open the a- and b-file on the queen-side;
-Develop the dark-squared bishop to g7;
-Finish the development and put the rooks on b8 and a8.
The Benko Gambit is a surprisingly common way for blacks to play against 1.d4, and it arises via the mover order 1. d2d4 g8f6 2. c2c4 c7c5 3. d4d5 b7b5. The move 2...c7c5 is blacks third most popular in the position and 3. d4d5 is overwhelmingly whites main response. From there, the Benko move 3...b7b5 is blacks most popular choice.
For more info, see [3-8].
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References:
1. https://www.dynpass.online/tools/chess/start.html
3. https://chessmood.com/course/benko-gambit
4. https://www.chessable.com/blog/benko-gambit
5. https://thechessworld.com/articles/openings/benko-gambit-complete-guide-for-black/
6. https://lichess.org/study/mFrB855l/U68hRkPK
7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_RUVKO5M8k
8. https://thechessworld.com/articles/openings/10-reasons-to-play-benko-gambit/
