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Benoni Defence
The Benoni Defence begins after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5. It is a sharp and somewhat risky defence, chosen by players who give White the centre in return for active pieces and queenside counterplay.
- For black
- Sharp
- Dynamic
Written by:
The Essentials
- Early moves:
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5
- Colour:
- Played by Black
- Style:
- Sharp and dynamic
- Difficulty to learn:
- Moderate to high
- Named after:
- Aaron Reinganum's 1825 chess book Ben-Oni, a Hebrew name meaning "son of sorrow". The name belonged to the book, not to an opening.
- Trivia:
- Reinganum turned to chess to lift his gloom, so the opening's sad name is really the title of his remedy.
- Variations:
- Modern Variation. Modern Variation, Snake Variation. King's Pawn Line. Classical Variation. Classical Variation, Traditional Variation. Classical Variation, New York Variation. Pawn Storm Variation. Taimanov Variation. Four Pawns Attack. Mikenas Variation. Fianchetto Variation. Uhlmann Variation. Knight's Tour Variation. Czech Benoni. Hromádka System.
- Good for:
- BlitzRapidClassical
Best suited for rating
1400-2200
Why play the Benoni Defence?
The Benoni turns 1. d4 into a fight from the very first moves.
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6, Black has traded the e-pawn for White's c-pawn, and the pawns no longer mirror each other.
White gets more pawns in the centre, and Black more on the queenside. Black also gets the half-open e-file and a home for the bishop on g7.
White chooses how to use the space: a classical setup with Nf3, an aggressive one with f4 such as the Taimanov, or the quieter Fianchetto.
Black cannot afford to sit still. If ...b5 never comes or the pressure on e4 fades, White's centre rolls forward with e5.
The reward is a double-edged game in which Black plays for a win, the reason Tal, Fischer and Kasparov all turned to it.
Try the Benoni Defence yourself!
Why the Benoni Defence is good with the:
Central majority - Two centre pawns against one give White space and a ready-made break with e5.
Target on d6 - Black's backward d6-pawn needs constant care, which keeps Black's pieces busy defending it.
Kingside attack - With pawns on e4 and f4, White can open lines against Black's king with e5 or f5.
Suited for - Patient players who like extra space and a clear central plan.
Why the Benoni Defence is good with the white pieces
Central majority - Two centre pawns against one give White space and a ready-made break with e5.
Target on d6 - Black's backward d6-pawn needs constant care, which keeps Black's pieces busy defending it.
Kingside attack - With pawns on e4 and f4, White can open lines against Black's king with e5 or f5.
Suited for - Patient players who like extra space and a clear central plan.
Why the Benoni Defence is good with the black pieces
Queenside majority - Three pawns against two on the queenside give Black a natural plan with ...b5.
Pressure on e4 - The half-open e-file lets a rook on e8 bear down on White's e4-pawn.
Fianchetto bishop - From g7, the bishop guards e5 against White's central break and reaches into the queenside.
Suited for - Ambitious, tactical players who would rather fight for counterplay than defend a passive position.
Strategy
Typical plans, pawn breaks, and key squares.
White's pawn breaks
White's main break is e5, usually prepared by f4, while the other kingside pawn moves depend on how Black sets up.
Black's pawn breaks
Black's counterplay starts with ...b5, backed up by ...a5 or ...c4 against White's queenside pawns.
Key squares
e4, e5 and f4 shape the centre, while b4, b5, c4 and d4 frame the fight on the queenside.
Target: e4
Black's rook bears down on e4 from e8, and ...b5-b4 chases away the c3-knight that defends it.
Traps and tactics
Four traps every Benoni player should know.
Themes
Kingside storm
When White's f-pawn joins the e-pawn, Black's king comes under fire, and counterplay that arrives late arrives too late.
Pieces over pawns
Black's structure gives a little ground, so the pieces must make up for it. Tactics around e4 and on the long diagonal often decide the game.
The e5 lever
White's whole game builds towards e5. Pushed with support, it opens lines for the pieces. Pushed too early, it leaves d5 loose.
A race of majorities
White pushes in the centre and Black on the queenside, and whoever gets there first often dictates the game.
History
The history of the Benoni Defence, from its origins to modern play.
1825
Son of sorrow
Aaron Reinganum publishes a chess book called Ben-Oni, Hebrew for "son of sorrow", and analyses the little-known reply 1. d4 c5 in it.
1953
Enter the magician
Mikhail Tal takes up the Modern Benoni after seeing a game by Rashid Nezhmetdinov, and his brilliant wins turn it into a major opening.
1972
The comeback
Two games down in the world championship, Bobby Fischer answers Spassky's 1. d4 with the Modern Benoni and wins game 3.
1980s
Crisis of faith
Crushing White wins with the Taimanov Attack shake the opening's reputation, and John Nunn, who has just written a book on the Benoni, soon gives it up.
2004
Second life
Needing a win with Black in the world championship, Vladimir Kramnik turns to the Modern Benoni against Peter Leko. He reaches a winning position, but the game ends in a draw.
2020s
Still swinging
Engines remain sceptical of Black's position, but Carlsen and Rapport still turn to the Benoni in serious games.
Model Games
Three games from Reykjavik and Lucerne.
FAQ
The Benoni Defence begins after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5. In its main form, the Modern Benoni with 3... e6, Black exchanges on d5 and plays for queenside counterplay against White's extra centre pawn.
Yes, if you are willing to study the ideas. The Benoni builds real counterplay rather than cheap tricks, but it only works once you understand why ...b5 and the pressure on e4 matter.
It is playable but a little risky. Engines prefer White in the main lines, yet Black gets real winning chances in return, and Fischer and Kasparov both won famous games with it.
Black gives White the centre and builds counterplay elsewhere: the queenside majority pushes forward with ...b5, and the half-open e-file puts pressure on e4.
The Taimanov begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+. The check forces Black to choose how to block, and the wrong choice lets e5 hit the knight on f6.
The Czech Benoni begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5. Black closes the centre at once, so the game turns into slow manoeuvring rather than the open fight of the Modern Benoni.
Both begin 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5. The Benko gives up a pawn at once with 3... b5 to open the queenside, while the Benoni keeps material level and prepares its own ...b5 later.
There is no single best line. The f4 lines such as the Taimanov are the most direct, and the Classical with Nf3 and h3 is the main positional choice. The Fianchetto suits players who prefer a slower game.
Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Vugar Gashimov, Veselin Topalov, Vassily Ivanchuk, Levon Aronian, Fabiano Caruana, Magnus Carlsen, and Richard Rapport have all used it.
Choose the King's Indian if you want a closed centre and a kingside attack with ...f5. Choose the Benoni if you want open lines and queenside counterplay from the very start.