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Blumenfeld Gambit

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 · E10

Part of Benoni Defense

Starting positionWhite to move

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A wing pawn buys a central majority

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The idea

Black offers the b-pawn to build a broad pawn centre, not the Benko's queenside-file pressure. In the accepted line, ...fxe6 and ...d5 give Black central space and a half-open f-file.

Main line: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5 7.e3 Bd6 8.Nc3 O-O

What White wants

  • Develop quickly after accepting the b-pawn; do not try to hold it at any cost
  • Challenge Black's central pawns before they advance with tempo
  • Castle and exchange active pieces to make the extra pawn matter

What Black wants

  • Build the c5–d5–e6 pawn centre after ...fxe6
  • Develop ...Bd6 and castle to use the half-open f-file
  • Prepare ...e5 with piece support rather than advancing every pawn immediately

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

A wing pawn buys a central majority

White's d-pawn exchanges on e6, drawing Black's f-pawn into the centre. After cxb5, ...d5 establishes three connected central pawns. Black has space and potential initiative, but must develop fast enough to justify the missing pawn.

Common mistake

Confusing this with a Benko and playing only on the a- and b-files. Black's compensation lies in central pawns and development; neglecting that centre lets White consolidate the extra pawn without facing an attack.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

rnbq1rk1/p5pp/3bpn2/1Ppp4/8/2N1PN2/PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQ - 3 9

Analyze this position

Related openings

Benko Gambit1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 · A57–A59Black sacrifices a queenside pawn for half-open a- and b-files and lasting pressure on White's queenside, often extending into the endgame.Benoni Defense1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 · A43–A44, A56–A79Black plays ...c5 against 1.d4 and accepts a locked, asymmetric structure where the fight is over the d5 pawn and the dark squares.Modern Benoni1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 · A60–A79Black fianchettoes and contests the centre through the half-open e-file, while White uses d5–e4 space and watches the queenside ...b5 break.Grünfeld Defense1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 · D70–D99Black strikes at the centre immediately with ...d5 and lets White build an enormous pawn mass, planning to destroy it from the flanks.Benoni: Fianchetto Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 · A62–A64White meets the Modern Benoni with g3 and Bg2, developing the king's bishop behind a sheltered kingside rather than choosing the usual Be2 setup.