Alejandro Ramirez: Attacking with the Benko

by Miguel Ararat
5/10/2015 – The Benko Gambit is a provocative opening, in which Black sacrifices a pawn for long-term compensation. Top players like Magnus Carlsen, Garry Kasparov, and Veselin Topalov all tried this gambit occasionally or regularly. ChessBase editor Alejandro Ramirez also likes the Benko and a while ago revealed its secrets on a DVD. Which is still worth viewing.

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Attacking with the Benko, 1 - Review

Attacking with the Benko Gambit, Volume 1, by Grandmaster and ChessBase editor Alejandro Ramirez is the first of a two DVD set repertoire on the Benko. Ramirez is an experienced Benko player and an enthusiastic presenter. Both show on the DVD.

In this volume Ramirez covers the positions arising after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5!?. The second DVD on the Benko Gambit deals with sidelines after 1.d4 Nf6.

At club level the Benko is a good practical choice for Black, especially at short time controls where the initiative is as important as material. Ramirez provides the future Benko player with the right amount of material to start playing the gambit and keep developing his/her opening repertoire.

But the Benko also attracted a number of top players. Here's a nice win by World Champion Magnus Carlsen against Boris Gelfand:

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 d6 9.g3 Bg7 10.Kg2 Nbd7 11.f4 0-0 12.Nf3 Ne8 13.Re1 Nc7 14.Bd2 Nb6 15.Qe2 Qd7 16.b3 f5 17.a4 fxe4 18.Qxe4 Qf5 19.Qxf5 gxf5 20.Rxe7 Nbxd5 21.Rd7 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 21...Nxc3 22.Rxg7+ 22.Rxc7 22...Kxg7 23.Bxc3+ Kf7 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gelfand,B2733Carlsen,M28150–12011A5920th Amber Rapid11

Garry Kasparov also liked the many advantages of the Benko. At the tournament in Linares he used it to win a fine game against Evgeny Bareev - and when Ramirez saw this he was so impressed that he decided to take up the Benko himself.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nf3 Bxa6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Nd2 Bg7 9.e4 Bxf1 10.Nxf1 Qa5 11.Bd2 0-0 12.Ne3 Nbd7 13.0-0 Qa6 14.Qc2 Ne5 15.b3 Nfd7 16.f4 Nd3 17.a3 Bd4 18.Kh1 Rfc8 19.Rab1 c4 20.b4 20.bxc4 Bxe3 21.Bxe3 21.Qxd3 Bxd2 22.Qxd2 Qxc4 21...Qxc4 22.Rb3 N7c5 20...Nf6 20...Qxa3 21.Nb5 21.Ned1 Rcb8 22.Ne3 Rc8 23.b5 Qb6 23...Qxa3 24.Nxc4 Rxc4 25.Qxd3 Bxc3 26.Qxc4 Bxd2 27.b6 24.Nxc4 Nf2+ 25.Rxf2 Rxc4 26.Rf3 Rxa3 27.Qb2 Nxe4 27...Bxc3 28.Bxc3 Raxc3 29.Rxc3 Nxe4 30.Rxc4 Nf2+ 31.Kg1 Nh3+ 32.Kf1 Qg1+ 33.Ke2 Qf2+ 34.Kd3 27...Raxc3 28.Bxc3 Rxc3 29.Rxc3 Nxe4 30.Rc8+ Kg7 31.Qe2 Nf2+ 32.Kg1 Nd1+ 33.Kf1 Ne3+ 28.Qxa3 Nxd2 29.Qa2 Be3 29...Bxc3 30.Rxc3 Rxc3 31.Qxd2 30.Rc1 30.Nd1 30...Qd4 31.b6 31.Rxe3 Qxe3 31...Rxc3 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Bareev,E2685Kasparov,G28050–11994A58Linares 12th1

By now Ramirez is a long time Benko practitioner and that creates a more personal connection between the selected material and the way the ideas are explained to the  audience. Sometimes when presenting a game Ramirez proposes several alternatives for Black which he can do because he has huge experience in similar positions. For example, in some lines Ramirez advocates putting the black queen on the g1-a7 diagonal to put pressure on the queenside and the white king thus playing the whole board and restricting one’s play to the queenside.

The author also indicates the type of positions Black must avoid at all costs – a valuable piece of advice. One such example is the game Kramnik- Topalov, Wijk Aan Zee 2003, in which White could consolidate his position and Black had no compensation for the pawn.

Alejandro Ramirez feels at ease in Benko positions

Ramirez is a good presenter and explains the basic ideas behind the Benko very well and clear. One key issue of the Benko is the long lasting initiative Black develops if White takes the gambit pawn. White starts defending in the opening and might well do so in the endgame.

Ramirez shows the methods, piece/square relationships that Black needs to know to keep his initiative and to transform it into a solid advantage. The core of the DVD are nineteen grandmaster games and six training exercises. The games illustrate the main lines White can play the Benko and each illustrative game is shown in videoclips of 10 to 14 minutes. A busy student can make daily progress even if his only time for chess is at lunch break.

The material Ramirez offers is of high quality, but the diligent student should cover at least two areas on his own. First, the reason behind move orders such as 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 (instead of ...Bxa6) is not explained (the move 5...g6 restricts white options by taming white‘s possible double fianchetto – the position after 6.g3 g6 7.Bg2 d6 8.b3 Bg7 9.Bb2 might not appeal to Benko players).

Second, novice Benko players may need to work on typical Benko endgames to exploit Black’s superior pawn structure. In fact, Black often has the better endgame in the Benko, even if a pawn down.

Players taking the Benko from square one, Benoni/Kings Indian players expanding their repertoire into Benko territory and, white players facing difficulties against the Benko will benefit the most from this DVD, which all in all is excellent and highly recommended.

Reprinted with kind permission of the Florida Chess Association magazine.

Sample Video

 

Alejandro Ramirez: Attacking with the Benko Gambit

Languages: English
ISBN: 978-3-86681-352
EAN: 4027975007410
Delivery: Download, Post
Level: Tournament player,  Professional

€27.90
€23.45 without VAT (for Customers outside the EU)
$26.33 (without VAT)
ISBN: 978-3-86681-456-1

This DVD can be purchased as a hard copy or it can be downloaded directly from the Internet, that way sparing you the few days needed for it to arrive by post.

Order this Fritztrainer in the ChessBase Shop


Miguel Ararat is a scientist, his background includes work on molecular biology and protein science techniques, applied to neuroscience and cancer research. At present Miguel works as a Biotech consultant and National Chess Coach. Miguel completed his chess coaching training under Senior FIDE Trainer Efstratios Grivas guidance, (2013). Currently, Miguel coaches a group of successful scholastic players from Florida.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.