Svitlana's Smart Moves - How to play the Benko Gambit!

by Arne Kaehler
1/8/2025 – One of our viewers’ favourite themes in Svitlana’s Smart Moves is the openings. This is probably due to the way Svitlana can splendidly explain the ideas, patterns, basics, and key points to consider in an opening. In this episode, the Canadian WIM tackles the Benko Gambit, an opening that Magnus Carlsen enjoyed for several years.
The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire.

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Episode 109

With Svitlana Demchenko and Arne Kaehler

Svitlana Demchenko is a 20-year-old, Canadian WIM and chess coach. Here and now, she will teach us plenty of smart moves on the board, ranging from tactics, strategies, openings, and everything else chess-related. In the process, I'm happy to be available as a student at club player level, and pester the Women's International Master with questions. Anyone who wants to strengthen their chess skills is welcome to watch, and actively replay the positions from the video on our chessboard.

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,185,96054%2421---
1.d4960,10155%2434---
1.Nf3286,72856%2440---
1.c4184,98756%2443---
1.g319,89756%2427---
1.b314,60454%2428---
1.f45,95848%2376---
1.Nc33,91750%2383---
1.b41,79148%2379---
1.a31,25054%2406---
1.e31,08149%2409---
1.d396950%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446654%2382---
1.c343951%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39366%2506---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 In the 1960s, this opening idea was promoted by Hungarian-American grandmaster Pal Benko, who played it and wrote a book about it, which is where the "Benko" name comes from. 4.cxb5 In case White doesn't want to accept the pawn gambit at all: 4.Qc2 Black has a few good options bxc4 4...b4 5.e4 d6= 5.e4 e6 Another possibility is: 4.Nf3 but it often transposes to regular lines after g6 often transposes 5.cxb5 4...a6 Black is offering another pawn, which White can either accept or decline. 5.bxa6 An interesting way to give the pawn back is: 5.b6 Qxb6 (although Black could also recapture with d6-Nd7-Nb6) 6.Nc3 d6 In case White plays less ambitiously: 5.e3 e6 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.Nc3 d5 Black gets a great center. White can attempt the following tricky line: 5.Nc3 axb5 6.e4 6.Nxb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Bb7 8.Bd2! Qb6 9.e4 e6± with interesting play in the centre. 6...b4 7.Nb5 d6= 0-1 Ponkratov,P (2610)-Dubov,D (2661) RUS-ch Higher League 68th Kaliningrad 2015 (6) White's trick is 7...Nxe4? 8.Qe2+- 5...Bxa6 This is the original, more classic approach. 5...g6 More popular approach recently, delaying the recapture. 6.Nc3 6.g3 Bg7 7.Bg2 d6 8.Nf3 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 9.Bd2 Qxa6 is better 9...Ne4 10.Qc2? natural move, but doesn't work due to the tactic: 10.0-0 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bxc3 10...Nxc3 11.Bd2 11.bxc3 Qxc3+-+ 11...Qa4 12.b3 Qe4-+ 6...Bg7 7.e4 7.Nf3 0-0 8.a7 This is a useful idea to know for White, this often makes Black's recapture more uncomfortable. Rxa7 9.e4 7...0-0 8.Nf3 Qa5 Another classic idea, useful while the opponent has not castled yet. 9.Bd2 best move Cool game: 9.a7? Nxe4 10.axb8Q Rxb8-+ 11.Bd3 Nxc3 12.Qd2 Ra8 13.0-0 Nxd5-+ 0-1 Gukesh,D (2578)-Firouzja,A (2759) Goldmoney Asian Prelim chess24.com INT rapid 2021 (8.7) 9...Bxa6 10.Bxa6 Qxa6 11.Qe2= In the Benko Gambit, Black doesn't mind the queen trade despite being down a pawn. The pressure on the a and b file is strong enough to compensate for it. Sample continuation: e6 12.Qxa6 Nxa6 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.0-0 Nb4 15.a4 Nd3 16.Rfb1 d5∞ 6.Nc3 d6 In these lines, e6 pawn breakthrough is not as common. 7.Nf3 g6 8.e4 This is the most ambitious line. 8.g3 Bg7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rb1 Qa5 12.Bd2 Rfb8 13.Qc2 theory goes on, but it's an interesting middlegame! 8...Bxf1 9.Kxf1 Bg7 10.g3 0-0 11.Kg2 Nbd7 11...Na6 12.Qe2 Qb6± piece placement is also possible as Black. 12.Re1 (most played) Although, this line is gaining more and more popularity lately: 12.a4 idea: Nb5 and blockade Black's pressure on the a and b files. Qb6 12...Ra6 13.Qc2 Qa8 14.Ra3! e6 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Re1± 12...Ng4 13.Nd2 Nge5 14.Qe2± 12...Qa5 13.Bd2 Rfb8 13...Qb4 14.Qe2 Ng4 15.Rhb1 Nge5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.b3 c4 18.Nb5 Qc5 19.b4 1-0 (23) Rychagov,A (2543)-Piceu,T (2325)/Rethymno GRE 2014/The Week in Chess 1027 (28) 14.Nb5 Qb6 15.Qc2± 13.Qe2 Rfb8 14.Nb5± 12...Ng4 13.Qe2 13.h3 Nge5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.f4 Nd7 16.Qc2 c4∞ 13...Nge5
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Introduction to-Benko / Volga Gambit- A59

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If you like Svitlana's Smart moves, you will certainly enjoy her video lectures about "Surprising your opponents with the Lazy Sicilian", her first Fritztrainer "Understanding Material Imbalances", and her brand new Fritztrainer "The Scotch Game". Her newest Entry is the "Leningrad Dutch Defence"!

In just 60 minutes, you will be well-equipped with a surprise weapon, which will take most of your opponents out of book right from the start.

This DVD focuses on several types of material imbalances, such as Rook vs 2 Pieces, Queen vs 2 Rooks, and Queen vs Pieces.

Besides in-depth theory and exciting tactical exercises in the Scotch Game, this video course also includes a bonus section on the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Bc4), a lively variation often leading to very dynamic positions.

The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire.

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Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.
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