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Benko Gambit
Course
49 episodes
(3 hours 27 min)
(3 hours 27 min)
Creators
GM Avetik Grigoryan
Why the Benko Gambit against 1.d4?
With a simple question, our Grandmaster team stumbled on this opening. The question they asked was this:
"Against 1.d4 which opening is the easiest to learn, easiest to play, and most unpleasant for White?"
The Benko Gambit fit the bill perfectly! The theory is simple to remember and Black has a clear plan of deploying their pieces...
See moreAnd even if Black gambits a pawn, they always get active play along the Queenside, giving them more than enough compensation.
For these reasons, many GMs even avoid accepting this gambit, especially in blitz games.
Below are positions taken from the course:
Learning the Benko Gambit will give you a better understanding of the importance of active pieces, open and half-open lines and the strength of g7-bishop that occurs from many openings.
Let's get started!
What you'll learn
- A full repertoire to play the Benko Gambit, covering all crucial variations and sidelines, move-by-move.
- How to play with a pawn deficit but happy pieces.
- The main idea behind the Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5)
- How to grab the initiative with Black?
- How to counter White's 3rd move alternatives in this opening instead of 3.d5.
- The power of happy pieces — how a Bishop on a long diagonal and Rooks on open files can stifle the enemy’s position.
- A strategy where Black offers to exchange Queens and go into an endgame, despite having less material!
- Model games to help you understand the Benko Gambit better and more.
Course Content
-
49
Episodes -
1
Attachments -
3 hours 27 min
4.8
Students give this course an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Sai Krishna
in the re1 video first section ne1 is a mistake because of re1 and we will lose a piece.
Lauritz Hellerud
Really good course! But can you add a part in the e4 section if white plays after 11. Qb6 12. a4 12. Na6 13. a5? It is not that much played, but it is the top computer move.
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Dear Lauritz!
Thank you very much!
A5,,, never seen it, and it quite illogical typical computer move, which I cant' immediately see the idea :) And one advice. If you'll care about computer moves and evaluations you should play another opening, but be ready to watch 100 hour course and remember millions variations.
Henry Yang
This course is great but usually I only see part of the game when you are showing me some.
Unknown Person
Great!
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Thank you!
Ishaan Ballal
Can you please check Re1 video of main line at 8:00. Ne1+ is not possible because of rook on e6 (Rxe1)
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
True! Will be fixed.
Neera Ann Rajan
Super course👌👌. How much winning percentage have black?
Andy Willkinson
I recommand to add a part analyzing 4...., b3. It is the second most played move on the lichess database and many solid player who plays aginst the Benko will consider it. Really appreciate if you guys will add some context related with them. Thanks
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Hey Andy!
100%, we'll do in the re-recorded version.
Meanwhile, in the Rock-N-Roll videos, you'll see model games, how we play against b3.
Saptarshi Das
Do you recommend playing the Benko Gambit in 90+30 OTB games?
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Yeah why not, especially below Grandmaster level - 100%
Onkar Paldhe
Great one, I never even dreamt of playing Benko ever in my life, but after completing this course I'm fully confident to play,
Looking forward for updated course, and it would be even great for all of us to have similar course on KID as well
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Thanks :)
Anatolii Maslov
It's very nice overview of Benko ideas and typical motives. Really liked the course.
Although, there are two concerns I have:
1. I've encountered several places where explanation is not 100% correct (it still gives the idea, but sometime can change the line).
Example - in "Theory of the main line g3" video, at 2:28 you say "b3 is not possible because of Nxd5". But in this particular case Nxd5 leads to losing position for black (white responds with Nxd5, then, Bd2 and recaptures B on a1) - checked with the computer :)
2. You give 12. a4 only in "advanced" section. But, according to the lichess DB now it's by far the MOST common continuation! And, actually, it might potentially change the whole approach making 13.. Qb6 instead of 13.. Nbd7 move the main.
ChessMood
Thanks! Will check this out!
Bill Putnam
Are you guys going to add a line plying e6 instead of b x h6?
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Yes, Bill! We're going to re-record a bit :)
Sulakshan Sulakshan
I like your videos. Very good
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Thanks!
Vincent Chessmood
Michael Carey
Do you know when the updates will be available? Eager to see them!!
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Thanks, Michael!
Sorry for the delay. We felt there are important topics to cover in the middlegame, so we temporarily moved to make a few booster courses.
Alpha Zero
Santo D'Agostino
This is an excellent course, with the usual clear explanations. It's great that sample games are given before discussing theory in depth, as this provides context for the theory, and helps learners navigate through the lines.
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Thanks a lot!
Jesus Coira
Very good!
ChessMood
Merci! :)
Grzegorz Brzeczyszczykiewicz
Very good course on the Benko gambit, am looking forward to playing this opening
ChessMood
Thanks!
Jeff Sweeney
The course is very good and engaging. My one problem with it, though, is it doesn't include a 4.b3 section. Though b3 may not be the best move, I have seen it in ~80% of my games. Though it may not be the most accurate move, a plan to counter the idea would be very nice.
Riptide
Very practical and well-explained. Although there are some lines missing and a few technical issues most notably the e6 suggestion against 5. e3. I would love to see an update soon including a more in-depth look into 5. e3 and the mainline e4 where white gets a4 in with different move orders
Giorgos Kechagias
Great!
Nils Philipp
Re Advanced Section - Upcoming Updates: Thanks a lot. Very helpful. And good to know that the fundamentals of the course remain unchanged. PS. And five stars for the course as it originally came out. Very well explained. And a very good choice to improve one's feeling for positional compensation. One tip: Don't be too irritated when reading in the forum that Benko is losing by force or is unsound. Many other coaches recommend it for non-titled players (who typically play other non-titled players). And even Kasparov dedicated a chapter in his book on modern chess.
Captain Hook
Great!
Pratham Lohakare
Great
Mateo Jackson
Artyom Manukyan
WIM_Siranush Ghukasyan
Sharan Sridhar
T K
Devansh Shah
Simple yet very effective
Easy to remember
Gives practical problems to opponents
Super!
WIM_Susanna Gaboyan
Wolfgang Weiler
The best course about the Benko-Gambit I ever used with many novelties. The author, GM Grigoryan, is very competent in didactics and methodics. That means the whole course is outstanding concerning the contents and the way he presents the Benko.
Every user will profit from this course - not only by learning and understanding the Benko but also improving his general abilities in chess.
Gor Avetisyan
Aayush Shirodkar
David Hakhinyan
Franck steenbekkers
Why not 12 A4 which is recommend by avrukh
Marc Sicina
Well explained. What about other reason that white via other moves gets in be Bb2 a4!?
Martin Wittke
jirapak pitirotjirathon
GM Avetik Grigoryan
After having a successful playing career where he became the Armenian Champion in 2010, GM Avetik Grigoryan found his passion for chess coaching and switched to it full-time.
Since then, he has guided many ambitious players to become Grandmasters and International Masters and has over 10 years of coaching experience.
He believes anyone can improve at chess, with the right mood and proper direction. And with that vision, he founded ChessMood in 2018.
After having a successful playing career where he became the Armenian Champion in 2010, GM Avetik Grigoryan found his passion for chess coaching and switched to it full-time.
Since then, he has guided many ambitious players to become Grandmasters and International Masters and has over 10 years of coaching experience.
He believes anyone can improve at chess, with the right mood and proper direction. And with that vision, he founded ChessMood in 2018.
The Benko Gambit, also known as Volga Gambit, arises after the moves – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5. This gambit is a serious opening alternative for Black against 1.d4 and is a part of the repertoires of many top grandmasters like Ivanchuk and Topalov. Here's a short overview of this opening.
| Moves | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 |
| ECO Code | A57-59 |
| Named after | Pal Benko |
| First game played in | 1933 |
| Notable players | Pal Benko, Vassily Ivanchuk |
| Also known as | Volga Gambit, Volga-Benko Gambit |
History of the Benko Gambit
The first game in this opening was played between – Gideon Stahlberg vs Gosta Stoltz, in the Stockholm Championship in 1933. The game ended in a draw.
Later a Hungarian-American player Pal Benko introduced new ideas and popularized them in the late 1960s.
In 1974 he wrote a book named ‘The Benko Gambit’.
Since then that name stuck with most of the world’s English-speaking countries.
In some countries, especially those in the Eastern bloc, the opening was known as the Volga Gambit, named after a river in Russia.
What is the Benko Gambit Accepted and Benko Gambit Declined?
As the name suggests, Benko Gambit Accepted is when White accepts the pawn sacrifice. It occurs after the moves – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 and White now grabs the second pawn with 5.bxa6.
On the other hand, White can also refuse to accept the gambit with 5.b6 (instead of 5.bxa6). This opening variation is called the Benko Gambit Declined.
Black’s Opening Strategy in the Benko Gambit
Black has many strategies in this opening, here are some of the most important ones:
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Opening Lines For Their Pieces: After White accepts the gambit in the opening, Black plays ...a6 to open the lines for their heavy pieces.
Later Black fianchettos their Bishop to g7, castles and put the 2 rooks on the a-file and b-file. Because By doing so, they want to exert tremendous pressure on the queenside.
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Exchange Queens: Despite being a pawn down, Black wants to exchange the queens. This strategy of going into an endgame goes against conventional wisdom. But in the Benko Gambit, there’s a deeper point behind it.
By exchanging the Queens, White will have problems defending the light squares in their camp.
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Jumping Knights: When White’s light squares are weakened, Black’s knights are ready to jump. The b8-knight often goes ...Na6-Nb4-Nd3, while the other goes ...Nf6-Nd7-Nb6-Nc4.
Is the Benko a sound opening?
With many top players using the Benko Gambit with the Black pieces, it is safe to say that the opening is sound. Almost anyone will benefit by adding it to their chess opening repertoire.
If you enjoy playing active and dynamic positions with the Black pieces, where Black has decent practical chances, you’ll love the Benko.
It will also help you understand certain concepts better. For instance, you’ll lose the fear of sacrificing a pawn for positional compensation, which is an important skill to improve your chess.
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49
Episodes
1
Attachments
3 hours 27 min
49
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3 hours 27 min
Creators
GM Avetik Grigoryan
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