Modern Benoni
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 · A60–A79
Part of Benoni Defense
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 18
Two attacks, one clock
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
- 7.
- 8.
- 9.
The idea
Black fianchettoes and contests the centre through the half-open e-file, while White uses d5–e4 space and watches the queenside ...b5 break.
Main line: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8
What White wants
- Support d5 and prepare e4–e5 with developed pieces
- Play Bf4, Nd2 and f4 to open lines toward the black king
- Restrain ...b5 when possible and look for pressure against d6
What Black wants
- Pressure e4 with ...Re8 and seek queenside activity with ...b5
- Develop ...Nbd7 and consider ...Ne5 to blockade the e-pawn
- Trade the light-squared bishops to defuse White's attack
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Two attacks, one clock
The rook on e8 directly pressures e4, not d5. White can seek e4–e5 or kingside activity while Black prepares queenside counterplay. Neither side has acquired an extra bishop pair through these exchanges; the race depends on development, pawn breaks and the d6 target.
Common mistake
Advancing e4–e5 or f4–f5 before checking Black's active responses. The central pawn on e4 is under rook pressure, and a premature break may open lines against White's king. Prepare the break and compare it with restraining ...b5.
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.
rnbqr1k1/pp3pbp/3p1np1/2pP4/4P3/2N2N2/PP2BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 6 10
Analyze this position