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What do you do when they decline the benko?

 
14th August 2009, 08:50pm
#1
by ericmittens
London, ON Canada
Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 2253

What does everyone do when white refuses to allow the benko with 3.d5?

3.d5 is of course theoretically the best move but some people like to play maroczy systems with 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4. Personally I've just settled for playing a hedgehog structure but it can be hard to generate winning chances in structures like that. Lately I've been looking at the Kasparov gambit with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5!? 5.Nb5 d5! 6.cxd5 Bc5

Also, some people avoid the benko altogether with 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 when a benko is no longer possible. Any suggestions?

14th August 2009, 09:22pm
#2
by ZekesGhost
Jackson, Michigan United States
Member Since: Apr 2009
Member Points: 623

I usually allow them to take the c-pawn and usually recapture with the Q, usually after Qa5. This leads to all sorts of stuff that I usually get into more often than the Benko.

10th January 2012, 10:32pm
#3
by wikipedian
Colorado United States
Member Since: Oct 2011
Member Points: 355

With 2.Nf3, congratulations, white cannot hope to transpose to the Taimanov variation of the Benoni. Most any Benoni defense will work great.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 and then white's better off to play 3. d5 anyway. You can offer to transpose to Benko with 3...b5 or you are safe to play 3...e6 and Benoni at will. An early Nf3 blocks white's f-pawn and gives you a great game. Should white fail to eventually drop c4, they are also worse off. In fact, unlike playing a Sicilian, c3 should give you equality.

There are other ideas which are just as good, like 2...e6 or 2...d5, but given your area of opening theory interest, there is absolutely no reason not to pop c5.

15th January 2012, 06:16am
#4
by yeahmanchessrocks
Fairfax, VA United States
Member Since: Jun 2010
Member Points: 21

I've been playing the Benko for a long time

 

here is how I respond

 

d4 Nf6 c4 c5 Nf3 cxe4 Nxe4 e5 Nb5 d5

d4 Nf6 Nf3 c5 d5 b5 (if e3 Bb7 Bxb5 Nxd5)

but what I dont know what to do against is

d4 Nf6 c4 c5 dxc5

(i know its dubious but how to exploit it?)

15th January 2012, 04:52pm
#5
by wikipedian
Colorado United States
Member Since: Oct 2011
Member Points: 355

This is the point of the Benoni, offer the pawn for development of the bishop, much as in the QGA. Pop e6 and retake with the king's bishop.

 

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