Benko Gambit
ECO A57, A59 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
The Benko Gambit, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5, gives up a queenside pawn for long-term pressure on the a- and b-files. Named after Pal Benko, it is one of the few gambits where Black is happy to reach an endgame a pawn down.
Plans for White
White takes the pawn and tries to consolidate, often with g3 and Bg2 or e4 and Kf1-g2, keeping the extra pawn and eventually using the queenside majority. Declining with Nf3 or a4 is also popular.
Plans for Black
Black opens files with ...a6 and ...Bxa6, fianchettoes on g7, and doubles rooks on the a- and b-files, often with the queen on a5 or b6. Pressure on a2 and b2 is constant.
Typical pawn structures
Half-open a- and b-files for Black, a strong g7 bishop, and White's extra pawn on the queenside.
Who it suits
Players who like positional pawn sacrifices and long pressure.
Common traps
If White grabs more material or plays passively, Black's pressure becomes overwhelming; if Black is too slow, White's extra pawn decides the endgame. The e4-e5 break is White's main tactical resource.
Variations
- Benko Gambit: Mutkin Countergambit — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. g4
- Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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