Anything is a good counter to the queen's pawn opening from 600-800. Until you get to around 1500, openings don't matter much.
At a high level (i.e. GM), it's considered slightly more correct to play Nf6 on move 1 and c5 on move 2, but the Old Benoni is certainly playable up to master level.
If White wants an advantage he will play 2.d5 gaining space, and then reinforce the pawn with e4 and Nc3 (leaving the c pawn on c2). In this way, if Black plays ..e6 and takes on d5 White will recapture with the e-pawn. Normally in the Benoni, White is not ready with e2-e4 and he has to recapture on d5 with the c-pawn, resulting in an unbalanced pawn structure and more possibilities for Black counterplay.
With the fully open e-file there is no Black Queenside majority, so less active play over there (assuming White plays a4 to shut down the ..b5 expansion) and White's central space edge is more meaningful.
Because of this, 1.d4 c5 is an inferior defense strategically.
The Old Benoni Defense isn't as defensive as the name implies...it's meant to get the Queen out early in the game to devestate white's queenside, typically ending with black losing the queen. It's not very sound. If you want to play defensively, start with 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 (Czech Benoni iirc). The purpose of this is to set up a strong defense until you can get all your pieces in position for a strong kingside attack which is typically started with f7-f5! about 10-15 moves into the game.
I love playing the Clarendon Court.
Um, I just tried to paste an external link to a game that just recently got me interested in this opening. Are we not allowed to paste in the chat box anymore or something?
I play the old beloni.
Mostly, amateurs just take the offered/proffered {:D] pawn, which leads to a slight advantage for Black
However, be prepared if White is too smart to take. Once lead to an extraordinary game featuring queenside diagonal attack and minor pieces counterattck!
Do you guys know the old beloni trap?
Helpful?
Helpful?
This is the same trap in the QGA lines where black tries to keep the pawn
What do you guys think of the Old Benoni Defense?
I think it's a pretty good counter against the queen's pawn for players around 600-800. I played tons of games with this opening, and I won most of them.