BENKO GAMBIT REVERSED......

Firstly in this game I played white and as an avid benko gambit player I decided to steer the game towards the b6 line of the benko gambit. but in this case reversed.

All gambiteers will tell you three things...

1. That the benko gambit is one heavily positional gambit with plenty of chances for fireworks in the game
2. majority of the endgames in the benko are actually playable by the benko gambiteer even when a pawn down due to heavy pressure along the a and b files
3. Never allow white to play the reversed benko. with tempo, the gambited pawn does not really register as lost material for white.
   
   
   
   the game is heavily annotated so please check out the move list for variations.
   
   ok now for the game.

Very beautiful game.  I appreciate the variations.  I admit, I was a little lost with the knight move.. but I totally forgot about the powerful bishop on g2!  Good game.  I know head would appreciate it... he is a benko lover!

glad to see you loved the game. the knight maneuver is a keystone in some lines of the benko...

hope head loves it!!

I should look at this game as I respond 1.Nf3 with 1..f5.  I've been thinking of going mainstream with 1...d5 though.  Problem is I will enter a lot of murky opening areas I don't know about!  i.e. the Reverse Benko!  lol

well, the benko is one of those gambits that even with correct play, at worst both players get equality... hence the fanatical following it can command !!

I encourage you to look at some benko games online..you will not be disappointed.

the gambit pawn never really is lost .

its the reverse benko with tempo!!!

I think its under the King's Indian Attack with (Sicilian Variation ECO: A08) splashed with a sort of wing gambit.

Here is one where b4 was played with GM Geller in Moscow in the 50's

ok rick, unfortunately i have the MCO too and nothing covers this line.

so have a look at

http://www.chessville.com/reviews/TheBenkoGambitRevealed.htm

if you like the look, send me a private message with your email and I will send you the pdf file.

otherwise there is no book (that I know of) that looks at the benko reversed, but once you grasp the subtleties of the benko position, tempo becomes a concept to play with.

then suddenly as white, black gives you a chance to play it, u go for the kill !!

politicalmusic you have nailed the hammer....

love the game by Geller..

and rick I think a tournament wont be out of place..

mwafrika...

I really like the game you presented. Including a current match, I have played Benko Gambit as black a total of four times. I lost 3 and the match I'm in now I'm losing. I'm not discouraged, because all of these games were/are against very strong players. Despite my online record, of all of the gambits that I like to play the Benko Gambit is the only one that I'll consider playing OTB . The losses have helped me tremendously.

I have often wondered how I could use the Benko Gambit ideas with the White pieces. Your post is a real eye-opener, especially because I like to open 1. Nf3 and this often transposes into similar positions. I will definitely give this a crack in a couple of 15 minute live chess matches; I'll let you know how it works out.

glad to see you liked it..

good luck with the transpositions.