Benoni From Black's Perspective

No not really, but that is just an easier way to saw pawn storm queenside with an attack to break into white's position using black's control of the dark squares. It's also more of the threat to promote a pawn because black can very easily get a passed c pawn that makes white have to pay attention to your attack. I'm also somewhat embarrassed to admit the bulk of my Benoni knowledge is very outdated (some of my theory is over 70 years old). A lot has changed since then!

@ Charreter115: Why do you feel compelled to comment on something that's terra incognita to you? This won't make you look smarter or even sexier- quite the opposite.

@pfren, you mentioned that the GM rep series is not good for the correspondence players. Is it because the lines/variations are very human like and good in practical tournament settings, but not the engine prepared artificial lines you see in alot of correspondence games?

Mostly for that, yes. In modern correspondence some "best" moves are quite unplayable in regular chess.

I'm guessing top GM's don't play the Modern Benoni much as it probably doesn't pass the computer test.

While I've seen a few computer vs. computer French Winawer's and Alekhine Defenses, which I would've thought they busted. I have only seen one comp v. comp Benoni.

In that game at move 16...Qa5+, White had already sac'd a piece and has an exposed uncastled King with the B still on c1, and I guess he's still apparently better going on to grind out a pawn+ till winning at 64.

I'm guessing while playable, the Benoni's probably not worth the risk for guys who make a living at the board.

Here's the computer game:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1754695

Nobody takes TCEC games seriously, especially when it comes to opening theory.

It's not clear as to why nobody would take these game openings seriously. Are the machines just playing random opening moves with no basis for play? Are they purposely playing weak moves, I guess just to see what happens?

I'd guess since most opening theory is probably either created on a machine, or at least verified on a machine, now days. Somebody might be interested in what they do against each other as long as the machines are honestly playing a competitive game. 

Nckchris @

Machines play with out strategy. It just follow the best calculation and the most accurate wins the position. The example you gave, there is an early simplification forced from white that I doubt any Master will ever follow to get an advantage over the Benoni. Komodo ends one pawn up but it's not a chess strategic project but rather a failure from the weaker engine to calculate or evaluate the same accurate.

If we put Komodo to play vs Komodo the same opening variation the game will end a draw.

@pfren Sorry I didn't ask this earlier. I reread your comment and you also said GM rep isnt good for GMs in addition to correspondence players and class players! Is it because some GMs will follow the lines and it makes them too easy to prepare against?

In fact, which players do you recommend GM Repertoire series for?

GM Rep books are good for titled nonprofessional players, who have limited time to prepare their opening repertoire on their own. Their quality varies, although Quality Chess in general has set quite respectable standards.

Nckchris, this is a stupid game. 9...Nh5 isn't a very good move, and 10...Bd4? leads to a bad position.

Aha. Perfect for me then! :p I'm basically using Marin's volumes and looking forward to the new one by Schandorff

The Bellin and Ponzetti book is brilliant, and should be the first book for anyone who wants to pick up the Modern Benoni. 

Regarding GMs who play the Modern Benoni, I haven't seen anyone mention Veselin Topalov. The Modern Benoni remains a fantastic opening at all levels. John Watson, an expert on the Modern Benoni, recommends avoiding the Taimanov "Flick-Knife" variation by waiting until White has played Nf3 before playing c5. But there were a bunch of English GMs who played the Black side of the Flick-Knife with considerable success in the 1990s. Their extremely concrete analysis still stands up to scrutiny. I'm not sure, but I think Yusupov may have published a line where white gains an edge though.

Still, I agree with Watson that it's best to avoid that stuff. Probably the best way to play the Modern Benoni is via the following move order: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5. If White plays 3.Nc3, there's always the Nimzo-Indian or the QGD. 

Btw, it's great to see so many titled players share their opinions and experience on an important opening. I'd love to see some of Rumo's games posted here.

It depends. In 2700+ round robin tournaments, relying solely on the Benoni is not a good idea. Not even Gashimov did that. It's a good weapon to occasionally play for a win with black from the start. Topalov hasn't played it in a while, but Nakamura has quite a few times.

But on normal GM level, for people who make money in open tournaments, Benoni is a perfectly good opening to minimize the drawing percentage.

after e6 c4 exchange on d5 as black means you must play d6 to stop white building a good outpost  but bishops become active

benoni is a cool line i like it it annoys most 1 d4 ers so that alone is worth using it lol ,

remember though aim for d6 c5 as your central pawn influence ,

Interesting! Thanks FM Rumo , I understand what are your meanings. With the Benoni black always has something to expect out of the box because of it unstable nature, I agree.

My concerns with it , is when black does not achieve a quick counter and allow white squeezing his position.

The maneuvers that required from black player to keep his position safe most of the time do not worth the energy of thinking. When White squeeze the Benoni one inaccurate move is enough because there is no space to recover.

You need a lot of courage to employ it regularly. Well done.

FM Rumo @

I sow your game and I want to ask something for the opening. I have been told that in this variation with 7.Bf4 the regular plan from black to play 7...a6 it's a positional mistake because after 11.Nd2 as you pointed out, white has the annoying plan to play a5 followed from Nc3-Na4 and eventually push b4-b5 while placing Rb1 behind.

What is your thoughts about this concept and how you counter this plan ?