I think the e4 push is unjustified for more reasons than simply giving up a central pawn. Capturing on a6 for the fully accepted Benko lines looks more testing.
After 5. e4?! (not a big fan of this move) Nxe4 6. Nf3 g6 7. Bd3 black can improve on the odd-looking ...Nd6?! with either ...Nf6 (standard reaction) or ...Qa5+ (taking advantage of the uncastled white King).
First you accept the wing pawn and then you sacrifice a central pawn...
indeed. Instead of 6. ... g6, black could've played 6. ... Qa5+, 7. Bd2 Nxd2[!] and whichever piece recaptures, 8. ... axb5 gives black a comfortable game being 2 pawns up methinks.
(seeing how both sides are lacking somewhat in piece development)
btw. I'm a big fan of the BDG but in this context, you had no set up: Nc3, f3 are essential. In this game though, you did capitalize on his slow plan and used your initiative effectively. 👍🏼
[edit] I mean "a pawn" up with Qside pressure. sorry
I play f3 then I play e4. Gives you more structure
"In the Blackmar Gambit you also give up a center-pawn, it's not the end of the world"
The fact that no strong master ever plays the BDG in a serious game might tell you something
Okay, these are all good answers from an objective point of view, what about the humane side? he plays I gambit to get a good position - I didn't give him that - take a pawn, and my king is safe. Why did he play Nd6? (and not Nf6) because it's not very human to block the bishop after you already opened it (and this isn't blitz - it's classical - 15 + 15) - especially if it's the ambition of your whole game - pressuring a1 b2 c3 - paralyzing the queenside.
Did you know how many games I won playing the Old Falkbeer Countergambit? (Morphy used to play it, according to a computer, it's Not good). Okay, since we all have computers now, maybe it's just a good surprise-weapon. Stockfish sure does kill creativity..
If you play the Benko, and rated 2100, then I believe it. okay, another 'great idea' by me lol. I guess Sometimes a person can just go with the flow - playing mainlines zzz ZZZ zzz... what? I'm sorry, fell asleep on the keyboard. click 'post'. bye.
Okay, these are all good answers from an objective point of view, what about the humane side?
That's fair, but I don't see how the position is favorable for white in any way, unlike in other gambits where you can see the definite compensation for the sacrificed material.
White can't play the natural 6. nf3 until the situation on b5 is dealt with (Taking with 6. bxa6 just gives black a pleasant position), can't play the natural 6. Nd2 to trade off the knight because just 6...nf6 and white's knight is dumb, which leaves like two natural/ok moves for white to play.
After 6. Bd3 Qa5+, black can once again just go to f6 back if 7. Nd2 and if 7. Bd2, black just exchanges the knight for the bishop on d2, gets the bishop pair, and plays axb5 with a good position. So scratch Bd3.
If 6. nc3, black just exchanges on c3 and plays normal moves like g6, Bg7 (The absence of the knight blocking the Fianchetto makes me prefer black in this position), d6 etc and getting a perfectly fine position without any semblance of activity from white as none of his kingside pieces are developed. Seems like black's probably the one playing for an advantage, accounting for the human side of the gambit
Diagram for easy reference:
If you play the Benko, and rated 2100, then I believe it. okay, another 'great idea' by me lol. I guess Sometimes a person can just go with the flow - playing mainlines zzz ZZZ zzz... what? I'm sorry, fell asleep on the keyboard. click 'post'. bye.
I'd argue this position is more boring than the regular Benko mainlines just simply due to how passive white's position is after Nxe4
A big problem with 5.e4, besides the lost pawn, is one of white's main plans in the Benko is to play e4-e5. When black plays 5...Nxe4 they put a stop to this plan for all time.
Generally against the Benko the most annoying things I've faced are when the opponents play the main lines, go a4 to hold off my queenside counterplay for a few moves, then throw out f4-e5 and try to attack through the center if I overextend on the kingside. Going for sidelines generally doesn't work too well, look at what happened to this poor guy.
Sir, you have inspired me. Great game, great commentary. (the engine-line is so cool - your queen or mate? you choose lol. a 'gangster move' Gotham would say).
Generally against the Benko the most annoying things I've faced are when the opponents play the main lines, go a4 to hold off my queenside counterplay for a few moves, then throw out f4-e5 and try to attack through the center if I overextend on the kingside. Going for sidelines generally doesn't work too well, look at what happened to this poor guy.
Then I guess that's my way to go - what you said is annoying.
Because, main lines, you see...
Obscure 1.d4 Openings #2: Budapest & Benko Gambits - GM Varuzhan Akobian
Minute 24:15.
What is the White king doing? Is this chess? cheese? my king is no mouse. and the mainline of the King's Indian Defense for White, I mean... "You can try to checkmate me, but I will penetrate from the queenside!", no, no, no, no, No.
My own idea (the computer hates it, it shows "minus 0.7", and I don't care)
The move is to play e4.
(it shows -0.7 but in the next 5 moves, the evaluation is about equal).
In the Blackmar Gambit you also give up a center-pawn, it's not the end of the world.
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What do you folks think? totally stupid of me? or possible?
(the e4 push, not the draw offer lol)