How do you become an expert in a pawn structure, so that you can understand the position and the key plans and motifs?
There have already been some books written on the subject of pawn structure - starting with Philidor's 'Analysis of the Game of Chess' in 1779.
The meaning behind Philidor's famous quote 'Pawns are the soul of chess', is that the pawns dictate where the pieces will be best placed in a position. The pawns can also be used dynamically, to clear files and diagonals and secure key squares for our pieces.
For today's post, let's try to understand the dynamic Modern Benoni, by looking at the basic pawn structure that characterises this opening:
Before continuing, answer the following questions:
a) What is White's main pawn break in this structure?
b) What is White's secondary pawn break in this structure?
c) What is Black's main pawn break in this structure?
d) What is Black's secondary pawn break in this structure?
You will find the answers to these questions in the games below!
Game 1: One does not simply play passively in the Modern Benoni!
As you saw from this game - White's key pawn break is e4-e5!, using his central majority to increase his space advantage. Once Black's d-pawn is exchanged, White will have a strong passed d-pawn of his own, but if Black doesn't take on e5, then e5-e6 grabs even more space, and still creates a powerful central passed pawn.
I should also point out that the e5-break doesn't always have to be based on central play. It can also be employed as a positional pawn sacrifice, to launch an attack on Black's king. The following game is a model example of this concept:
Game 2: Taking One for the Team in the Benoni Siege
Admittedly, this idea is quite situational, as often Black can meet f5 with ...e4!, even as a counter-sacrifice to fight for the initiative. But it is a useful idea to know - it gave me my first win in a tournament game against a 2400+ rated player, back in early 2006.
Game 3: How to Kill Black's Counterplay
This game features a quite nice system against the pure Modern Benoni, with Nge2-g3, resembling a Samisch Benoni, but where White can often save a tempo on f2-f3 in favour of, for instance, Bg5/f4.
However, the key pawn break was 20.b2-b4! - a key pawn break for opening the queenside in White's favour, and grabbing more space, in the event that playing for e4-e5 is not realistic. We also saw how the backward d6-pawn can be a long-term weakness for Black, especially if Black is unable to take the initiative.
This break is also quite effective for dealing with Black's queenside play in many cases. The following game shows that we don't necessarily have to fear ...c4 in reply, as the protected passed pawn on c4 is well blockaded, and White can play around it:
Game 4: Spanish Torture for the Son of Sorrow
These three games may paint a bleak picture for Black, but Black's defeats were the result of playing too quietly in the opening/early middlegame. By the time Black got in his pawn break, White had already established control of the position.
On that note...what is Black's main pawn break in the Benoni?
We see it in the next game:
Game 5: Don't Let Black Take Over the Queenside!
Black's main pawn break is ...b7-b5 - seizing space on the queenside, and placing our pawns side by side on c5 and b5, so that Black can continue to take the initiative with ...c4 and ...b4 in the future.
Of course, White should respond with a4 to hold back ...b5. Even then, Black can still prepare this pawn break, such as in the following game:
Game 6: Overly slow play is fatal for White too!
This game explains why you often see White play either the h3/Bd3/Nf3 setup as White, or Nf3-d2 before Be2/0-0 - to avoid the ...Bg4xf3 exchange. You probably noticed in the above game that it was quite hard for White to get in the e5 break, without the support of the knight on f3 (or c4, after Nf3-d2-c4).
Sometimes, the ...b5 break also works well as a pawn sacrifice, to open the b-file and take the initiative. The following game is a good example:
Game 7: Don't be afraid to sacrifice material for the initiative in the Modern Benoni
That leaves the question...what is Black's secondary pawn break in the Modern Benoni?
If we can't achieve our active play on the queenside, then we should look to the kingside for counterchances:
Game 8: White's centre isn't as robust as it looks!
As you figured from this game, the ...f5 break is often a good way to challenge White's central majority, and put pressure on White's position - especially when White doesn't have e4-e5 in reply!
Here is another example of the ...f5 break, which may offer some inspiration in a line traditionally thought to be a bit better for White:
Game 9: You may be slightly better, but I know and like the position better!
For those of you who thought that ...c5-c4 was Black's secondary pawn break - it is not necessarily wrong, but I find that it usually played to support ...b5, or launch a counterattack on the e4-pawn with ...Nc5, such as in the following brutal correspondence game:
Game 10: Don't step on a Black landmine!
Although this was mainly a post on understanding the Modern Benoni with both sides, I want to offer a few pointers with regard for how you should go about reaching this structure in your own games:
Personally, I started out playing the King's Indian move order to reach the Benoni, but also used the 2...e6 3.Nf3/g3 c5 move order in the later years of my playing career.
What are the main lessons you learned from this post?
What have your games been like from either side of the Modern Benoni?
Do you feel more comfortable playing the opening as White or Black?
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