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Benoni Defense
Moves	1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5
ECO	A43-A44, A56-A79
Origin	German manuscript entitled Benoni by Aaron Reinganum (1825)
Named after	Hebrew term meaning "son of sorrow"
Parent	Indian Defence
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The Benoni Defense is a group of chess openings generally characterized by the opening moves 1.d4 c5 2.d5 although Black's ...c5 and White's answer d5, is often delayed until move 2 or 3. The most usual opening sequence for the Benoni is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5. Black can then sacrifice a pawn by 3...b5 (leading to the Benko Gambit). If Black elects not to sacrifice then 3...d6, 3...e6 or 3...g6 are common moves, leading to the mainline Benonis.

There are many variations of the Benoni.

The most common is the Modern Benoni, which may come after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 exd5 6.cxd5 g6 or 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6. The Modern Benoni is a risky attempt by Black to unbalance the position and gain active piece play at the cost of allowing White a pawn wedge at d5 and a central majority. White usually plays for a central break with e5, while Black tries to effect ...b5. Black will fianchetto his king's bishop to g7 and castle, playing for an attack on the queenside and the semi-open e-file. White will play for a central initiative. Compared to the usual lines of the King's Indian Defense, Black's fianchettoed bishop is a lot more active since it is not blocked by a black pawn on e5. However, not having the pawn on e5 makes White's center more fluid. The Modern Benoni is thus a very combative and double-edged opening, indeed, it is one of the most double-edged openings with 1.d4. Many White players who fear the sharp battles decide to avoid the Benoni all together; after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 they play 3.Nf3 leading to a quieter variation of the English Opening. Tal popularized the defense in the 1960s by winning several brilliant games with it, and Bobby Fischer occasionally adopted it, with good results, including a win in his 1972 world championship match against Boris Spassky. Often Black adopts a slightly different move order, playing 2...e6 before 3...c5. Many Black players do this in order to avoid the sharpest lines for White.. After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7, White can play the sharp 8.Bb5+ Nfd7 (considered best); by playing 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5, Black avoids this line.

One serious challenge to the Modern Benoni is the Taimanov Variation. It arises from the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8 Bb5+. The Taimanov Variation is also known as the 'Flick-Knife Attack'^[1]. Garry Kasparov, Joel Lautier and Vlastimil Hort have favored this variation. 8...Nfd7 is considered the safest response to the check; 8...Nbd7 is also playable but more risky. The Taimanov is considered to be so strong that many players prefer to reach the Modern Benoni by the transposition 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 (instead of ...c5) 3.Nf3 c5, when playing Black, since the white knight on f3 rules out this variation.^[2]

The Old Benoni arises if Black immediately answers 1.d4 with 1...c5. The Old Benoni frequently transposes to the Modern Benoni or Czech Benoni, but there are a few independent variations.

In the Czech Benoni Black does not fianchetto his king's bishop and he plays his king's pawn to e5. One possible move order is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5. The Czech Benoni is much more solid than the Modern Benoni, but it is also more passive.

"Benoni" is a Hebrew term meaning "son of sorrow". The often weak black pawn on d6 gave the name.

The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has many codes for the Benoni Defence.

Old Benoni Defence:

• A43 1.d4 c5
• A44 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5

Benoni Defence:

• A56 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5
• A57-A59 cover the Benko Gambit, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
• A60 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6
• A61 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6

Fianchetto Variation:

• A62 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0
• A63 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7
• A64 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.g3 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 Re8

Modern Benoni:

• A65 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4
• A66 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4

Taimanov Variation:

• A67 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Bb5+

Four Pawns Attack:

• A68 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0
• A69 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Be2 Re8

Classical Benoni:

• A70 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3
• A71 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Bg5
• A72 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0
• A73 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0
• A74 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 a6
• A75 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 Bg4
• A76 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8
• A77 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2
• A78 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2 Na6
• A79 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2 Na6 11.f3

• Franco-Benoni

1. ^ e.g by Andrew Kinsman in Modern Benoni, 2001 Everyman Chess
2. ^ De Firmian, Nick (1999). Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. Random House Puzzles & Games. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3.