Benoni Defense · A43

French Benoni

1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 3. d5

...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.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5. Theory calls this the French Defense.
• 2. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 2... c5 Challenges the pawn on d4 - the central tension has to resolve. Theory calls this the Franco-Sicilian Defense.

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