Basic ideas in modern Benoni

I have recently been  studying the modern Benoni: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 (different move order included as well).

The books and lesons on the internet have taught me the ideas black has in mind and what should be the basic plan as well as knowing what white is up to and how to stop it. Very interesting so far.

However, I find a big but to this. When you study them, the texts assume that white plays a sound game.

Let's put it another way: in the main line white plays 4.d5 instead of dxc5 or some other defensive move (rather than advancing the pawn) like e3 or Be3. I also meet this move sequence often: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.dxe6 fxe6 (instead of 4.Nc3 exd5).

I understand that these lines are not analyzed simply because they are too weak for white thus a good player would avoid them. Nonetheless, at amateur level I keep facing them, knowing that I've got a won or superior game, where I can only wonder clueless since I don't know how to exploit it nor know what my plan should be now.

I'd be very grateful if anyone could give me some ideas on these three lines.

1 white takes the c5 pawn.

2 white refuses to advance his d4 pawn after c5

3 after d5 e6 white plays dxe6 instead of Nc3. On a side note, I understand that I should play fxe6 getting the advantage of having central pawns but I really need further analysis.

Thank you very much.

You're right, I understand what you say, but I already found all that in the books. My question is, what sould black do and what should he have in mind if white opts to play these lines I commented.

Haven't played the Benoni in a long time but it seems to me that if White plays either dxc5 or dxe6 he's giving up part of his hold on the centre very easily. I wouldn't say that Black has "a won or superior game", especially at amateur level, but his space will be less restricted (easier to play ...e5 or ...d5) and his centre under less pressure (no backwards d pawn, less problems caused if White can play e5).

Well, in this case he is interested in the less popular lines so there is some justification for a separate thread.

Thanks a lot, that idea is a good one. 

Hello, Estragon

If White plays dXe6 either now or a little later doesn't this saddle B with a backward, weak d pawn? Does Black recapture with the B or the f pawn - and what are his plans then?

I think that if you don't know how to figure out a plan in some given position, or see what the pros/cons for both sides are, you don't have much business studying opening theory yet.

Here's a game from the other day I played where white didn't play into the Modern Benoni proper and played dxe6. You can end up with a huge lead in development and become the aggressor.

Hello, Mezmer. Thanks for posting your game. How about 6e4, putting a bind on d5? Also, I understand an immediate 5...d5 is more popular.