Benko Gambit

Benko Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code A57. It goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... Nf6. After 6 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
• 1... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
• 2. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4
• 2... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
• 3. d5 – White plays the pawn to d5
• 3... b5 – Black plays the pawn to b5

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 4. cxb5, 4. Nd2.

About the Benko Gambit

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5, Black offers a pawn with 3...b5. Black gets open queenside files and long-term pressure.

• After cxb5 a6, Black opens the a- and b-files for the rooks.
• Black fianchettoes with ...g6 and ...Bg7 to hit the queenside.
• Black's queen often goes to a5 or b6, and the knights to b6 or a4.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Benko Gambit course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Benoni Defense (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5)
• Continues with: Benko Gambit Accepted – adds 4. cxb5 a6
• Continues with: Benko Gambit Declined: Bishop Attack – adds 4. Bg5
• Continues with: Benko Gambit Declined: Hjørring Countergambit – adds 4. e4
• Continues with: Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line – adds 4. Nf3
• Continues with: Benko Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Sämisch – adds 4. f3
• Continues with: Benko Gambit Declined: Quiet Line – adds 4. Nd2
• Continues with: Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation – adds 4. a4
• Continues with: Benko Gambit: Mutkin Countergambit – adds 4. g4
• Related line: Benko Gambit: Mutkin Countergambit (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. g4)
• Related line: Benko Gambit: Nescafe Frappe Attack (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3 axb5 6. e4 b4 7. Nb5 d6 8. Bc4)
• Related line: Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3)
• Related line: Benko Gambit: Zaitsev Variation, Nescafe Frappe Attack (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3 axb5 6. e4 b4 7. Nb5)
• Related line: Benko Gambit: Fianchetto Variation (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. g3)
• Related line: Benko Gambit: Nd2 Variation (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. Nd2)

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