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Benko gambit (alternative) when white goes 2 Nf3?

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samyoung

The Benko gambit is my favorite opening with black against d4.  However, sometimes I don't know what to do when white goes 2 Nf3, rather than 2 c4.  A lot of times, white does actually still play c4 on move 3, but if I continue with 3 ... c5, trying to transpose, that approach doesn't seem so effective.  (White to move in the image below.)

First, white might not respond with 4 d5; they might play something like 4 Nc3, avoiding your intention even getting a Benko-like setup.  When looking at the game database, 4 Nc3 is in fact more common than 4 d5.

So this makes me think that 3 ... c5 just isn't a good way to go in such settings.  Then what should a Benko player do in such settings?  Just change the opening system entirely and play Grunfeld/KID?  What do other Benko players do in such situations?

IMKeto

 

samyoung

Thank you for the reply, IMBacon.  If Nf3 comes on move 3, then I agree with the line you posted.  However, Nf3 can come on move 2, and then then c-pawn isn't out yet to do the cxd4 business.  In the position screenshotted, white didn't just play 3 Nf3 to guard the d-pawn, but rather black had just played 3 ... c5 trying to achieve a Benko (with it being white's move now, not black's).

3 Nf3 doesn't give me trouble, but 2 Nf3 does.

 

IMKeto
samyoung wrote:

Thank you for the reply, IMBacon.  If Nf3 comes on move 3, then I agree with the line you posted.  However, Nf3 can come on move 2, and then then c-pawn isn't out yet to do the cxd4 business.  In the position screenshotted, white didn't just play 3 Nf3 to guard the d-pawn, but rather black had just played 3 ... c5 trying to achieve a Benko (with it being white's move now, not black's).

3 Nf3 doesn't give me trouble, but 2 Nf3 does.



 

 

shreshth2010

thanks lotshappy.png