Benoni Defense (A40-A79)

Franco-Sicilian HybridA40

1. d4 e6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 exd5 4. cxd5 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Nf3 Ne7

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. ...c5 and ...e6 tempt d5, then Black gets a queenside majority and the half-open e-file: ...b5 is the eternal break, White's is e4-e5.

1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
1... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5. Theory calls this the Horwitz Defense.
2. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
2... c5 Challenges the pawn on d4 - the central tension has to resolve.

Old Benoni, through 1... c5A43

1. d4 c5

In the centre, White holds d4.

1... c5 Theory calls this the Old Benoni.

Benoni Gambit AcceptedA43

1. d4 c5 2. dxc5

White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

2. dxc5 Takes the pawn on c5, toward the centre and opens the d-file for the queen. Theory calls this the Benoni Gambit Accepted.

Old Benoni, after 2. d5, through 2. d5A43

1. d4 c5 2. d5

2. d5 Pushes on to d5 - grabbing space and fixing the centre, and the queen breathes.

Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit, after 2. b4A43

1. d4 c5 2. b4

2. b4 Challenges the pawn on c5 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Benoni Gambit, Schlenker DefenseA43

1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 Na6

2... Na6 Develops the knight to a6, hitting the pawn on c5. Theory calls this the Schlenker Defense.

Benoni-Indian DefenseA43

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6

2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Benoni-Indian Defense.

Cormorant GambitA43

1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 b6

2... b6 Theory calls this the Cormorant Gambit.

Old Benoni, after 2. d5, through 2... d6A43

1. d4 c5 2. d5 d6

2... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5.

Old Benoni, Mujannah FormationA43

1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5

2... f5 Fights for e4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Mujannah Formation.

Snail VariationA43

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Na6

2... Na6 Develops the knight to a6. It backs up the pawn on c5. Theory calls this the Snail Variation.

Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move OrderA43

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nf3

Benoni-Staunton GambitA43

1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5 3. e4

French BenoniA43

1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 3. d5

1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
1... e6 Theory calls this the French Defense.
2... c5 Theory calls this the Franco-Sicilian Defense.

Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit, after 2. Nf3A43

1. d4 c5 2. Nf3 cxd4 3. b4

An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the d-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.