Benko's opening help
I think 1.g3 is also called the Hungarian Opening.
Like you said, the opening has so many possibilities to transpose to other openings, it is difficult to give any general advice about the position after 1.g3. It could turn into a Reti, a Catalan, an English, maybe even a King's Indian Attack. White could also play as if he's with the Black pieces, trying to enter some reversed openings. A player who plays 1...g6 would be quite at home playing the Benko Opening as White, and he could use these moves as a universal system.
Black will have the opportunity to grab space in the center, so White should have a counter-puncher mentality.
As far as a suggestion for a book goes, possibly "The Modern Defense: Move by Move" by Lakdawala. It is a book for Black, covering 1...g6, but maybe it will be useful for ideas in the reversed form.
I suggest you tell everyone the type of systems you're aiming for out of 1.g3.
d4+c4+g3? catalan type stuff? "g3+d3+e4 modern stuff? g3+c4, english type stuff?
Thanks everyone. @Godlike, are those the main openings in 1.g3? If so, I'll take a look at all of them and see which I prefer. Do you know of any comprehensive opening trees I can take a look at to see the different mainlines within 1.g3? Thanks for the information.
Also, @the_cram, thanks so much for your reply. That's an interesting parallel (1...g6). I'll be sure to check it out! I'm really interested in the hypermodern systems.
Radjabov (2700+) and Kramnik (2700+) will often play 1.Nf3 and then 2.g3 (the Reti Opening.) Playing Nf3 first has the advantage of preventing Black from playing 1...e5, preventing the easy formation of the e5-d5 pawn duo in the center. Oh, and we shouldn't forget Ulf Andersson (2530)!
If you're wanting to stay strictly with 1.g3, I don't know a GM who plays this regularly, but I did find an IM who plays both 1.g3 and 1...g6 as part of his repertoire: T M Haub. He's rated 2400+.
@the_cram, I think I was fixating on 1.g3 out of my own ignorance. Thanks for the insight. I'll definitely be browsing my database for their games!
If you need help, please contact our Help and Support team.
I was wondering if anyone knew of where I can find books, articles, or general advaice related to Benko's opening. I've been playing this opening for quite a while, and find that it is very transpositional.
Thanks.