Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: Pragg scores with the Benko Gambit!

by Robert Ris
5/26/2025 – In his new Fast & Furious show, Robert Ris analyses a crucial encounter of the Superbet Chess Classic. In round eight, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, who would go on to win the event, defeated Wesley So after surprising him in the opening - by playing the Benko Gambit! | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.
This video course offers you a complete, clear repertoire for Black against the moves 1.Nf3 and 1.c4. The recommended variations are easy to learn and not difficult to remember, but also pose White serious challenges.

I have a look at Praggnanandhaa's crucial victory with the black pieces against Wesley So, played it the eighth round of the SuperBet Chess Classic in Bucharest.

He certainly surprised his opponent by meeting 1.d4 with the Benko Gambit, a very unusual guest at the highest level these days. So opted for the setup with 5.e3, one of the critical lines, which led to a very doubled-edged middlegame with chances for both sides. However, it seemed as if Pragg felt much more at home in this unbalanced type of game, as he took advantage of So's mistakes in a very precise manner.

A true model game for any fan of the Benko Gambit!

Exercise: White's last move, 29.g3, was the decisive mistake. How should Black seize the initiative now?

W. So - Praggnanandhaa R., Superbet Classic 2025
Black to play

Feel free to move the pieces on the live diagram!

This week's show

Watch previous shows

Recent shows

Many more Fast and Furious episodes are available in ChessBase Videos

Links

<< Vincent Keymer and Dinara Wagner are 2025 German chess champions
TePe Sigeman & Co Final Round - Live! >>
Topics: Fast and Furious
Robert is an International Master who mostly spends his time training and coaching talented youngsters. On the PlayChess server The Fast and the Furious is a popular show where he explains sharp opening lines for a wider audience. He is also a well-known ChessBase author who produced numerous DVDs and regularly contributes to ChessBase Magazine as well. Since 2015 he is the organizer of the Dutch Rapid Championships in his home town Amstelveen. He has started a YouTube channel with chess analysis as well.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: Beating the World Champion

5/18/2025 – In his new Fast & Furious show, Robert Ris looks at the encounter between Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and World Champion Gukesh at the Superbet Classic in Bucharest. Gukesh tried a popular line in the Scotch, but things soon went wrong for the World Champion. | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can <a href="https://account.chessbase.com/en/create-account" target="_blank">register a Premium account here</a>.
More...
 1

See also

Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: A tactical slugfest

5/8/2025 – In his new Fast & Furious show, Robert Ris looks at the encounter between World Champion Gukesh and Praggnanandhaa in the first round of the Superbet Classic in Bucharest. An interesting opening quickly turned into a complicated and highly entertaining tactical slugfest. | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can <a href="https://account.chessbase.com/en/create-account" target="_blank">register a Premium account here</a>.
More...
 1

Video

60m English Anti-Bayonet

King’s Indian fans who choose the Mar del Plata attack (7...Nc6) against White’s classical system (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0) usually aim for a complex position with mutual attacks on open wings, requiring long-term strategic planning and tactical sharpness in critical moments. Computers often do not know how to handle the arising complex strategic positions, which suits players who like to think on their own instead of memorizing long variations. However, the fashionable Bayonet Attack (9.b4) interferes with Black’s ideas. After Black’s main move 9...Nh5 the positions opens, the lines get forced and computer analysis is important again. But this DVD offers an antidote against White’s Bayonet Attack, namely 9...a5! This move leads to sound positions with very few concrete lines, in which the focus is on strategy not on tactics. Objectively chances are equal but if Black knows what to do things might quickly become dangerous for White.

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.