Benoni Defense: Cormorant Gambit

Benoni Defense: Cormorant Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code A43, part of the Benoni Defense family. It goes 1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 b6. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 4 moves it is White to move. After the last move White is a pawn ahead in material. 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... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
• 2. dxc5 – White captures on c5 with the d-pawn
• 2... b6 – Black plays the pawn to b6

About the Benoni Defense

Black plays ...c5 against 1.d4 and, after d5, builds an unbalanced pawn structure. Black gets activity and queenside play in return for less space.

• Black fianchettoes with ...g6 and ...Bg7, aiming the bishop at the long diagonal.
• Black's plan is the queenside pawn push ...a6 and ...b5.
• White wants the e4-e5 break in the centre; Black must stop it.

Related openings

• It extends: Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted (1. d4 c5 2. dxc5)
• Related line: Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit (1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5 3. e4)
• Related line: Benoni Defense: French Benoni (1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 3. d5)
• Related line: Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order (1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nf3)
• Related line: Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation (1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 c4)
• Related line: Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense (1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6)
• Related line: Benoni Defense: Old Benoni (1. d4 c5)

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