Benko Gambit - How To Play

Opening are purely personal choice.  I cant tell you what opening to play anymore than you can try and tell me what opening i should play.  

I played the Benko for a while before switching over to the Semi-Slav. I found that I got good pressure down the open A and B files when the gambit was fully accepted. If you don't mind being a pawn down for long term pressure, this is a good opening for you. To start playing it, just look through any database and get through some main variations. Generally though, you could play just by putting your pieces where they belong, Bg7, Bxa6, Nbd7, Rooks on a8 and b8, and queen on either c7, b6, or a5 generally.

When you get to the ...Ng4-...Ne5 variation and someone tells you its busted at top level chess, ignore them and remind them youre not playing GM's.  It still works very well.

A very good book for learning the Benko Gambit is....

"The Benko Gambit Revealed" by Neil McDonald...

https://www.amazon.com/Benko-Gambit-Revealed-Neil-McDonald/dp/0713488689/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480541012&sr=1-1&keywords=benko+gambit+revealed

The book is an introduction to the Benko for those looking to learn the opening.  GM Neil McDonald is one of the best chess authors for explaining things to the average chess amateur (i.e., those who have not yet added "Master" to their chess title).

If you decide to play the Benko G. seriously you might also want to acquire a copy of 

"Attack With Black" by Valery Aveskulov.....a complete repertoire for Black against 1.d4 which is built around the Benko Gambit, and related lines, depending on how White responds....

https://www.amazon.com/Attack-Black-Valery-Aveskulov/dp/1906454396/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480541330&sr=1-1&keywords=attack+with+black

good advice...

add in a couple of thematic tournaments, you'll get a feel for how to play it.

Junior Tay's Benko Gambit Move By Move is good.

I agree.  Tay's book is also a good introduction to the Benko Gambit.

https://www.amazon.com/Benko-Gambit-Move-Junior-Tay/dp/1781941572/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1480703248&sr=1-3&keywords=junior+tay

I have also played the Benko Gambit for a while.  Objectively, I would say that the only person who gets an advantage out of the opening is white with correct play.  I've found the variation where white castles by hand particularly annoying.  That being said, it's not all doom and gloom.  I still use it frequently as the position is easier for black to play than for white.  The pressure down the a and b files provide good compensation for the pawn and slightly compromised center.  It's also important to note that a queen exchange will often help black more than white as white's attack is severely diminished and black has very good chances to play for a win or at least a draw in the endgame.  There are several annoying side-lines and ways of declining the gambit that you'll have to learn as well of course but those are things you'll be able to fix as you go.  As far as books go, Boris Alterman's Gambit Guide is a pretty solid bet.  Everything is clearly laid out and the plans are very obvious.  Also remember to practice it.  It's not an opening you can learn by just reading about it.  You MUST play it.  Good luck!

I play the Benko sometimes. The only way to learn is studying games.

http://www.pgnmentor.com/files.html#openings