Modern Benoni

Play as BlackDefence

Black accepts an unbalanced pawn structure and plays for counter-attack on the queenside.

The main line, move by move

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O

1. 1. d4 — Claim the center with the queen pawn and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
3. 2. c4 — Gain space and put pressure on the d5 square.
4. 2... c5 — Challenge the white center at once.
5. 3. d5 — Gain space and shut the long diagonal.
6. 3... e6 — Challenge the pawn on d5 and open the position.
7. 4. Nc3 — Brings the knight into the game.
8. 4... exd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
9. 5. cxd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
10. 5... d6 — Free the bishop and support the e5 break.
11. 6. e4 — Build a big center.
12. 6... g6 — Prepare to fianchetto the bishop.
13. 7. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
14. 7... Bg7 — Brings the bishop into the game.
15. 8. Be2 — Brings the bishop into the game.
16. 8... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
17. 9. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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