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The Benoni and its Tactics

The Benoni and its Tactics

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Chess.com Team
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Learn the key ideas in the dynamic Benoni Defense!

The Benoni is one of the sharpest defenses to 1.d4. This course will show you how to reach the Benoni and find the key ideas for both Black and White. Practice the tactics and positional motifs that made the Benoni a favorite weapon of World Champion Mikhail Tal!

Here is what you will learn:

  • Learn how to play the exciting Modern Benoni Defense!
  • Learn the most common tactics for White and Black.
  • Learn the strategic ideas and goals for both sides.

Recommended for players rated between 1400 and 2200.

How to Reach the Modern Benoni

The term Benoni refers to a kind of structure with black pawns on c5 and d6 and a white pawn on d5. The "Modern Benoni" is a specific opening against 1.d4.
6 Challenges

Attack on the Center - From the Wing

Central pawns, which are not sufficiently supported by pieces, can become targets.
2 Challenges

Son of Sorrow

The word Benoni means "son of sorrow" in Hebrew. I am not sure how the opening got this name, but it is clear what the source of sorrow is for Black in the Benoni - the d6 pawn!
1 Challenge

Hot Pawn

Here we see a typical tactic in the Benoni. Black maneuvers a knight and leaves a crucial center pawn hanging! But it is a poisoned pawn.
4 Challenges

From the Kingside to the Queenside...

White has a rook, knight, and bishop against a queen - a material advantage. But the White king is vulnerable and White pieces uncoordinated.
3 Challenges

Tal's Benoni Prowess

One of the greatest heroes of the Benoni is the eighth world champion, Mikhail Tal. Here we see an example of how quickly he annihilates his opponent from a typical Benoni position.
9 Challenges

Penrose's Method

This game created a sensation - the newly-minted world champion lost to the little-known English player. Penrose's positional sacrifice became a well-known method in these structures.
8 Challenges

Highways of the Board

Here we will see some of the typicaly most important lines and squares in Benoni positions - the e-file, the long diagonal, and the e5 square.
9 Challenges

Black Square Magic

Here we see an example of the calcified center of the Czech Benoni.
1 Challenge

Kingside Attack

Although Black's powerful queenside majority and fianchettoed bishop might indicate that you will be playing on the queenside, sometimes you can use the control of kingside squares to start an attack there.
4 Challenges

Breaking the Blockade

Sometimes there can be a blockade throughout the board. And sometimes there may be only one chance to break that blockade!
4 Challenges

Smyslov Slays the Benoni

In the Benoni one of White's main trumps is his central majority and command of space in the center. This is the factor that caused the Benoni to be considered a disreputable opening to many classicists.
4 Challenges

Grip on the Outposts

Black in the Benoni often has to be ready to make material sacrifices for positional or tactical reasons. Here is a thematic example.
4 Challenges

The Poor Benoni Bishop

The dark squared bishop is the soul of the Benoni. If it is in bad shape (as here, blocked by the pawn on f6) then the whole position suffers. Here Kasparov gives us a thematic example of positional domination.
4 Challenges

Squeezing the Benoni

The Benoni is an active opening, but nothing is for free. If you play badly you can end up in some terrible positional torture!
6 Challenges

Marshmallow

It is later in the game, and the remnants of the Benoni structure can barely be perceived. Lightning strikes from a hardly-clear sky!
3 Challenges

Positional Turning Point

Sometimes Black can play too riskily in the Benoni. But if you are White, you have to know how to deal with that risky play, or you could end up in trouble!
3 Challenges

Suba's Surprise

Viktor Kortchnoi surprised Benoni hero Mihai Suba with a prepared line - but Suba found a shocking counter-surprise over the board!
6 Challenges

The Benoni and its Tactics

Openingen
18 Lessons
No Videos
81 Challenges
Released 11/12/2007

Verwant