The Benko-Volga Gambit?

Here is what Pal Benko has to say about the name:

“Many often speak of it incorrectly as the Volga Gambit. That name itself makes little sense since I have never heard of a player with that name nor of a tournament on the river Volga. I have even discussed this matter with several Soviet Grandmasters, but they too considered the origin of the name unclear.”

I think it is mostly European players who describe the gambit as the Volga gambit. I couldn’t find any tournament with that name either.

In Wikipedia it says it is named “after the river Volga”, which is kind of odd. Why that river, and not like the Mississippi or Amazon or the Yellow river?

Anyway. I call it the Benko.

Good one Pal.

I do wonder if his friends called him buddy.