Why The Benko Gambit Should Be Part Of Your Repertoire

The Benko Gambit is named after the Hungarian-American chess master Pal Benko. Benko emigrated to America in 1957, where he made a name for himself as puzzle composer, author, and as one of the country’s leading players during the middle part of the 20th century.

Pal Benko frequently played the opening which now bears his name in his games with the Black pieces. He was also a major innovator in rethinking the merits of a move which had formerly been known as the “Volga Gambit”.

Benko further promoted this chess opening for Black through a book he published in 1974, self-titling it “The Benko Gambit”. Given the cultural sway of the United States, the name “Benko Gambit” has largely supplanted the old Volga Gambit name in English-speaking countries.

The Benko Gambit begins with: 1. d4 Nf6, 2. c4 c5, 3. d5 b5.

On the surface, the move 3… b5 seems designed to undermine White’s pawn center. While this is certainly true, it is only part of the story.

Unlike most gambits, which offer material in exchange for activity and the prospect of launching a quick attack, the Benko Gambit is more positional in nature. Black is not expecting to land an early knockout with the Benko Gambit - instead, Black expects their compensation to be long-term positional play on the queenside.

Learning an opening such as the Benko Gambit is an excellent way to get better at chess. In order to master an opening such as this, you will need to become comfortable with giving up material now, in order to gain a positional edge which may only pay off much later in the game.

Related: The Best High Percentage Chess Openings For Black.

How White Can Respond To This Interesting Chess Gambit

The first question posed by the pawn sacrifice 3. …b5 is whether White should accept it.

According to chess.com’s opening explorer, accepting the gambit with 4. cxb5 is by far the main 4th move for White. However, anyone who plays the Benko Gambit with Black must also be ready for all the various ways that White has of declining the gambit.

Let’s now take a look at the two main approaches that White can take in the Benko Gambit, and how Black should look to proceed in each.

White Declines The Gambit

If White declines the gambit with a move such as 4. Nf3, Black is likely to get a very good game. This is why declining the Benko Gambit is much rarer than accepting it.

One good move for Black in this position is 4. …b4, which deprives White’s queenside knight of its natural developing square on c3.

Black may also choose to hold the tension with a move such as 4. …Bb7, which adds pressure to the White pawn on d5. This can become important later, once the White pawn on c4 is removed, one way or another.

Another strong idea for Black is g6 followed by Bg7, with pressure along the long dark-square diagonal. This discourages White from playing b3 to reinforce their pawn on c4.

White Accepts The Gambit: 4.cxb5

Accepting the gambit with 4. cxb5 is White’s main move. Here, Black almost always plays 4. …a6 with the idea that if White captures again with 5. bxa6, Black’s light-squared bishop gains an excellent square after 5. …Bxa6.

From a6, Black’s light-squared bishop cuts across the board and makes it impossible for White to advance their e-pawn without the prospect of Black playing …Bxf1, where White must recapture with the king, therefore losing castling rights.

Alternatively, White may play 5. b6 to prevent Black’s bishop from getting to a6 - but the White pawn on b6 is overextended and will soon allow Black to reestablish material equality after (for example) 5 …d6, 6 …Nbd7, and 7. …Nxb6.

A Model Game In The Benko Gambit

Next, let’s take a look at a few key moments from one of Pal Benko’s own victorious chess matches in the opening which has been named after him: Visier Segovia vs. Benko, 1969.

The game began as a “Benko Gambit Accepted”, with 4. cxb5. Black soon went for the a6 / Bxa6 idea we showed earlier.

White is a pawn up, but with Black having established his bishop on a6, White has some problems completing kingside development. 

White next played 7. e4, whereupon Black had no hesitation in initiating the trade of light-squared bishops with 7 … Bxf1.

Later in the game, we can see the consequences of the White king's failure to castle. White’s king has made its way to g2, but its position is far from secure. Given White’s king safety problems, Black opened lines with the aggressive pawn break 16. …f5!

Pal Benko went on to record a resounding victory. Altogether, it was just 23 moves before White resigned!

Related: Attacking Chess For Club Players - available from the USCF store.

How To Play The Benko Gambit In Your Own Chess Matches

This article has provided a general overview of the Benko Gambit. If you like what you have read so far, you should take the time to learn more about this fascinating chess opening for Black.

First, we recommend watching this short YouTube video. In it, GM Erwin l’Ami introduces some additional ideas for both sides. (By the way - if you like his teaching style, he can take your education in the Benko Gambit even further! See below).

Next, try the Benko Gambit in casual games and in online blitz. This will help give you a better feeling for the Benko Gambit and the sorts of games it leads to. View these as “practice” games - where it doesn’t matter if you make mistakes or lose. This way, you can get valuable experience in the Benko Gambit before deploying it in your more important games!

If you decide you want to play the gambit in serious competition, we recommend investing in GM l’Ami’s full video training course: The Benko Gambit Explained, which is available from the USCF store.

This product includes:

• 6 hours 30 minutes of video instruction.
• Interactive training including video feedback.
• A database of model games.

Armed with this knowledge, you will soon be playing the Benko Gambit like a pro!

Summary: Is The Benko Gambit Right For You?

The Benko Gambit can be a superb addition to your Black opening repertoire if you:

• Can play with a material deficit. The Gambit player invests a pawn early in the game, without expecting to recover it anytime soon. You should be a chess player who can look beyond material, and understand the entirety of the position.
• Enjoy queenside play. Many Benko Gambit games are decided through the lines Black manages to open on the queenside. 
• Prefer long-term plans to immediate opening tactics. As we have said, the Benko Gambit is not your average gambit! This is not an opening which relies on tricks and traps - rather, it is an opening for the player who can play with patience.

Does that sound like a chess opening that would suit your style with the Black pieces?

If so, add the Benko Gambit to your repertoire today!