CONTEMPORARY CHESS OPENINGS

General Editor R.G.Wade

The Benoni
William R. Hartston

Popularised

by

Fischer

and

Tal,

the

Benoni is one of the best choices for any

player who wants an active defence to
,P-Q4. The first edition of this book re
ceived

wide

acclaim.

Leonard

Barden

praised it as 'a balanced review of this

sharp and lively opening' and placed the
author

'among

the

top

ten

opening

theorists in the world.' This new edition

has been expanded and updated,

and

contains many more illustrative games.

William Hartston is an international mas
ter anp Britain's highest-ranking player.
In the '972/3 Hastings Premier Tourna
ment he was placed third, ahead of many
grandmasters - and only just failed to
achieve the grandmaster rating. He has
also written a volume on The Grlinfeld and is
co-author of The King's Indian Defence, both
in Batsford's Contemporary Chess Open
ings series.

Second Edition of
A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK

For a complete list of Batsford chess books

please turn to the backflap

CONTEMPORARY CHESS OPENINGS

GENERAL EDITOR: R.G.WADE

The Benoni
WILLIAM R. HARTSTON

B. T. Batsford Ltd / London

Preface

This book is intended to contain all the material necessary for chess
players who wish to play the Benoni defence with the Black pieces, or
who may meet it as White. I hope and think that players of competitive
chess of all standards will find this work useful, since it is directed at no
particular level of play, but my aim has been rather to set out all the
material in the most coherent and readable manner possible.
Writing on chess openings is admittedly in danger of dating owing to
the large number of international tournaments played, which are
always adding to the relevant material. It is impossible to deal with
this problem completely satisfactorily, but I have minimised its effect
by stressing the general features of any variation, using recent games
more to illustrate these ideas than as the final word on the subject.
This should help the reader to acquire a feel for the position, which is
always more important than memorising long, and possibly out-dated,
variations. For the second edition, I found it both desirable and ex
pedient to include a number of annotated games, serving to illustrate
current theoretical trends in addition to providing further examples
of strategic development after the opening. References to the beginning
of 1973 have been incorporated and those who seek a full account will
not be disappoin ted.
The book is divided into three distinct sections : the Modern Benoni
and Czech Benoni form the first two parts, and both of these are covered
in sufficiently great detail for anyone who may wish to play these lines
as either colour; in the third section I have given a review of other less
popular Benoni lines, with enough analysis for the reader to meet them
with confidence.
W.R.H.

Contents

Preface
Symbols
I. THE MODERN BENONI

A The Fianchetto Variation

B The Knight's Tour Variation
c Uhlmann's Line
D The Main Line
E

The Pawn Storm Variation

F The Penrose-Tal Line

Q Other Systems

Avoiding the Modern Benoni

Annotated Games

2. THE CZECH BENONI

3. OTHER BENONI SYSTEMS
Index of Complete Games
Index of Variations

Symbols

ch

Check

=F

Clear advantage for Black

!!

Very good move

?
??
!?
?!

Weak move

Clear advantage for White

Strong move

Very bad move

Double-edged move
Doubtful move

W or B at the side of each diagram indicates which side is to move

I.

The Modern Benoni

12

TIu Modern Bmoni

The characteristic position of the Modern Benoni arises after the moves

I P--Q.4 N-KB3
5

PxP P-Q.3.

!I

P-Q.1I4 P-1I4 3 P--Q.s P-K3 4 N-Q.83 PxP

I
W

The Modern Benoni has the reputation of being one of Black's most
aggressive replies to 1

P-Q,4.

White is immediately given a central

pawn majority in the hope that Black's queen's side majority will prove
more effective. Owing to the unbalanced nature of the position, play
is necessarily very sharp. Black will fianchetto his king's bishop and aim
for ..

P-Q.N4

followed by a general advance on the queen's wing,

while White tries to restrain tHis plan while preparing a pawn push
in the centre.
The line was introduced by Marshall against Nimzovitch at New
York 1927, in which game White demonstrated the effectiveness of
establishing a knight at

Q,B4

and Black was driven into a hopelessly

passive position. Thereafter the variation was only seen sporadically

until the mid-1950s when extensive analyses by Suetin demonstrated
Black's correct plans. Shortly after, Tal scored some brilliant victories
with it and the Modern Benoni received the accolade of respectability.
Its popularity reached a peak while Tal was World Champion, and has
recently risen again following Fischer's successful adoption of the
opening at the Havana Olympiad 1966 and subsequently.
White's possible plans are numerous. We examine them under the
following headings:
A. The fianchetto variation:

B.

N-B3 P-KN3 7 N-Q,2 and 8 N-B4

N-B3 P-KN3 7 B-N5
main line: 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-K2
pawn storm variation: 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 P-B4
Penrose-Tal line: 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B-Q,3 B-N2 8 KN-K2

c. Uhlmann's line: 6
D.

The

E. The
F.

6 P-KN3

The 'knight's tour' variation: ti

The

G. Other systems.

The Fia1lChetto Variation

13

A. The Fianchetto Variation: 6. P-KN3

6
7 B-Na
IN-a,
Pointless is 8 N-R3? as in Golombek-Stahlberg, Hamburg 1955, when
there followed 8 . 0-0 9 0-0 R-KI 10 N-B4 B-Q,2 11 P-Q,R4
'
N-R3 12 P-K4 N-Q,N5 with good play for Black.
8 PK4 0-0 9 KN-K2 is also ineffective; e.g. Donner-Czerniak,
Venice 1950, continued 9
R-KI
10 P-Q.R4 N-R3 11 P-B3 N-Q,N5
12 B-K3 P-N3 13 Q-Q,2 B-Q,R3 140-0 N-Q,2 with advantage to Black.
0-0
I.. .
. . .

. .

White has developed his pieces quietly without committing himself

in the centre. He intends to continue with the plan of N:-Q,2, N-B4,
P-K4 and a gradual expansion culminating in a central breakthrough
with P-K5. Black has a number of possible methods of counterplay, the
great variety of these illustrating the many varied thematic ideas
inherent in the Modern Benoni formation. We consider: (i) 9
P-Q.R3,
(ii) 9
.CK2( ! ) , (iii) 9 ... N-R3, and (iv) other ninth moves.
. .

(i) 9

. . .

P-Q,R3

10 P-Q.14
Almost a reflex action. It is essential to prevent
P-Q,N4, so no other
move comes into serious consideration.
Q.N-Q.2
10
R-KI 11 N-Q.2 Q,N-Q,2 transposes, but White should not answer
10 . .. R-KI with 11 B-B4 when Black secures good play with 11
N-K5!
(weaker is 11
.CB2 12 Q,-Q.2 Q,N-Q.2 13 KR-NI P-B5 14 B-R6.
. . .

14

The Modern Benoni

B-RI I S Q-B4 R-NI 1 6 P-R3 P- QN4 1 7 p X P p XP 1 8 N-Q4,

Smyslov-Tolush, Leningrad 1 9SI ) 12 Q.- N3 Q-B2 1 3 NXS RXS
1 4 N-Q.2 R-NS I S Q.-K3 N-Q.2 ! 1 6 Q.-K8ch N-BI 1 7 s-K4 Q.-Q.2
1 8 Q. x Q. B X Q. 1 9 B x P P-N3
20 P-RS p- B4 !, Uhlmann-Kluger,
Marianske Lazne 1 9S4.
1 1 N-Q.2

3
B

R-NI
11 ...
I I . . . R-K I is an important alternative, perhaps better than the text
move. White obtains no advantage then with either (a) 1 2 N-B4 N-N3
1 3 N-K3 ( 1 3 NXN Q.X N 1 4 P-RS Q-B2 I S B-B4 N-R4 1 6 B-Q.2
B-Q.2 =, Toran-Esposito, Buenos Aires 1 9S5; or 1 3 N-R3 B-Q.2 14 B
B4 N-BI IS N-B4 Q-B2 16 P-K4 N-R4 1 7 B-K3 R-NI 1 8 P-RS B-N4
with complications, Sosonko-Veinger, Leningrad 1 966) 1 3 .. N-NS !
1 4 NX N BX N I S P-R3 B -Q. 2 1 6 Q-Q.3 R-NI = , Stahlberg-Kluger,
Bucharest ' 1 9S4; or (b) 1 2 P-R3 R-NI 1 3 N-B4 N-K4 1 4 N-R3 Q-B2
(insufficient is 14 ... Q.-K2 I S P-B4 N(K4)-Q.2 1 6 K-R2 P-KR4
1 7 P-K4 Sokolev-Savon U S S R 1 966 ; but a sharp try is 14 ... N-R4? !
for example: I S P-K3 P-B4 1 6 R-NI B-Q.2 1 7 P-Q. N4 P X P 1 8 RXP
Q- R4 with complications, Osnos-Stein, USSR Champ 1 966, or I S P-K4
P-B4 1 6 p XP B XP 1 7 P-KN4 NXP 18 PXN Q- RS 1 9 PXB B-K4
20 R-KI and Black's attack should not succeed, Yuferov-Vasiukov,
U S S R 1 968) I S P-B4 N (K4)-Q.2 1 6 P-K4 P-BS ! ( 1 6 ... P-N3 1 7 K-R2
B-N2 18 Q.-Q. 3 Q.R-BI 19 N-B4 , Szabo-Unzicker, Moscow 1 9S6)
1 7 B- K3 (if 17 Q- K2 P-Q.N4 !) 1 7 ... N-R4 1 8 B-B2 N-B4 1 9 P-KS (if
1 9 NXP B X N 20 PXB NXKP+)N-Q.6 20 PXPQ-Q.I! 2 1 Q-Q.2 B-B4 +,
Gonzales-Polugaevsky, Havana 1 962.
Formerly it was main tained that after 1 1 ... R-K I , White could gain
the advantage with 1 2 P-RS P-Q.N4 1 3 P x P e.p. N x NP 14 N-N3 N-BS
I S R-R4 N-N3 16 R-R2 N-BS 1 7 Q.-Q. 3, but then the resource 17 ...

1M F_lutto VIIt'i4lUm

15

Il-NI! was unearthed. Critical then is 18 Q.XN Il-NS 19 N-IlS! ? IlXQ.

20 N X Q. but this awaits practical tests.
After this discovery the move 11

R-KI became fashionable again;

some of the developments of theory will be found in the game Stetsko

Bangiyev annotated on page 82 .At the present time 11 ... R-KI may be
recommended as a promising sharp response to the fianchetto variation,
avoiding the quiet paths into which this line usually leads.
Besides 11

R-KI and 11

bility for Black of I I

. .

with either 12 P-R3 R-NI

N-KB2

16 N-B4 B-Q.2

. .

R-NI there is also the dubious possi

N-KI , but after this White obtains an advantage

13 N-B4 N-K4

14 N-R3 P-B4

13 N-R3! (but not 13 NXN BXN

or 12 N-B4 N-K4

IS P-B4

I , P-RS, Marovic-Cebalo, Yugoslavia 196,;

14 B-N2

IS B-Q.2 B-Q.2 with equality, Horowitz-Reshevsky, New York 19S6).

12 N B4
-

13 P XP e.p. NXNP

12 P-RS P-Q.N4

14 P-K4 (or 14 N-N3 N-BS

I S R-R4 N-N3 as in O'Kelly-Tolush, Bucharest 19S3, when White has

no better than a draw with 16 R-RI N-BS, etc.)

t;C-K2

16 N-BI N-BS

I ' t;C-K2 N-K4

14

R-KI

I S R-KI

18 P-R3 P-BS with active play

for Black, Donner-Filip, Amsterdam 19S4.

12 ...

N-KI

12 .. .N-N3 allows 13 NXQ.P.

13 P-RS
14 N-N6
1 5 P-R3!

N-K4
N-B2

Good for Black is I S P-B4 N-NS

16 N-B4 R-KI

I , N-lC4 N-N4

18 P-R3 B-B4! Donner-Keres, Hastings 1954-S; while I S N-K4 B-B4

16 B-NS P-B3

I ' B-Q.2 also achieves nothing, Smyslov-Pachman,

Amsterdam 19S4.

4
B

White now has some advantage since it is difficult for Black to create

16

Tilt Modem Bm"";

1 5 ... N-N4 ( 1 5 ... N-Q2 16 N-B4

1 7 N-R3! ) 1 6 B-Q2 R-Kl 17 R-KI, Marovic-J. Littlewood.
Hastings 1 962-3. and White is slowly but surely completing his pre
parations for p-B4. P-K4, etc.
active play for himself. For example

N-K4

(ii) 9

. . .

Q;-K2 (!) (from diagram 2)

This is Black's most solid defence to the fianchetto variation. His plan
is simply to avoid weakening his queen's side by any unnecessary pawn
moves, and to keep a firm hold on his K4-square. It is also possible to
play 9 ... Q.N-Q2
1 0 N-Q.2 Q.-K2(!)
10 N-Q.2
Q.N-Q.2

transposing.

11 N-Ilf
Other possibilities are:
(a) 1 1 P-KR3 P-N3
1 2 P-Q.R4 B-QR3 1 3 R-KI N-KI
B x N 15 P x B N-B2, Donner-Petrosian, Goteborg 1 955,
1 6 Q.-N3 N-B3 1 7 N-NI KR-B 1 1 8 N-B3 P-QR3! Black

1 4 N-QN5
when after
gained the

initiative;

1 1 7-Q.R4 N-K4 1 2 P-B4 N(K4)-N5 1 3 N-B4 N-KI 14 P-K3

1 5 P-R3 N(N5)-B3 1 6 R-KI B-Q2 with a difficult game for both
sides, Lilienthal-Suetin, 2 1St USSR Championship 1954.
11 ...
N-Kt
Q.xN
12 NxN
13 P-Q.R..t
1 3 R-K I Q;-K2 1 4 P-Q.R4 N-Q2 1 5 Q;-N3 N-K4 1 6 B-Q.2 P-KN4
I 7 N-K4 P-KR3 1 8 B-B3 (Van Seters-Tan, Hastings 1 962-3) and
now instead of 1 3 ... p-B4??
14 NXBP. 1 3 . . . R-N I or 1 3 . .. P-N3
(b)

P-B4

would be quite satisfactory.

13 ...

P-Q.R3

Quiet manoeuvring with

1 3 ... Q.-K2

as in the note above is also suffi-

The Fianchetto Variation

17

den t for equality. The text move was played in the game Gligoric
Petrosian, Zurich 1 9S3, in which after 14 P-RS KR-KI IS B-B4 Q-K2
16 Q-N3 N--Q2 Black had a very comfortable position,

(iii)

...

N-R3 (from diagram 2)

This intends to prepare . . . P--QN4 by playing . . . N-B2 , but in this line

Black's central problems cause too many difficulties for him to equalise.
10 P-KR3!
This innovation of Korchnoi's denies Black the use of his KNS square
for his knight or bishop and thus makes it much easier to continue
actively in the centre. If instead 10 P-K4, then 10 . . . B-NS is satisfactory,
for example: II R-KI N-B2 12 P-KR3 BX N 13 QXB N-Q2 14 Q-K2
R.-KI IS B-K3 P- QR3 16 P-QR4 R-NI with good play for Black,
Letelier-Darga, Havana 1 964.
The older plan for White was 1 0 N-Q2 N-B2 II p-Q
. R4 (if II N-B4
KN-KI 1 2 P-QR4 P-N3 1 3 B-Q2 R-NI 1 4 N-NS NXN IS PXN N-B2
16 RXP NXNP is not bad for Black, Tal-Mnatsakanian, U S S R 1 9S9, but
not here II . . . P--Q N4? 12 NXQP ! QXN 1 3 B-B4 Q-N3 14 p-Q6 with
great advantage, Boleslavsky-Kapengut, Minsk 1 96 1 ) II .. . P-N3
12 N-B4. (If12 R-KI B-QR3 1 3 R-R3 R-KI 14 P-K4 N-Q2 I S B-BI
BX B 16 NX B P--QR3 I 7 B-B4 N-K4
Foguelman-Pachman, Buenos
Aires 1 960; or 1 2 R-NI B-QR3 1 3 P-QN4 pXP 14 RXP B-N2 with a
good game for Black, Buslaev-Polugaievsky, Tiflis 1 9S6) 1 2 . . . B--QR3
1 3 N-R3 (or 13 Q-N3 B x N 14 QX B P-QR3 with counterplay, Bevshev
Kliavin, Voroshilovgrad 1 9S5) R-KI 14 R-KI N-Q2 I S B-Q2 (or
I S P-B4 P-B4 1 6 P-K4 pXP 17 NXP N-B3 18 N-B3 Q-Q2 Of Yepez
Evans, Havana 1 966) I S '" P-B4 16 Q-N3 N-B3 and Black has an
active position, Bukic-Matulovic, Yugoslav Championship 1 967.
A new plan was seen in the game Korchnoi-Schmid, Erewan 1 965,
which continued 10 N-KI N-B2 II P-QR4 R-KI 12 N-B2 P-N3 .13 R
KI R-NI 14 P-R3 N--:Q2 I S B-Q2 Q-K2 1 6 R-NI with even chances.
N-B2
10 . . .
11 P-K.f!
I I P-QR4 R-K I
1 2 N-Q2 P-N3 was played in two games between
Bertok (White) and Matulovic. The first (Yugoslav Championship
1 965) continued 13 R-KI B-QR3 14 P-K4 N-Q2 I S N-B3 N-K4
16 NXN BXN 1 7 B-K3 QB-N2 18 Q-Q2 P--QR3 ; while the second
(Sochi 1 966) went 1 3 N-B4 B--QR3 14 Q-N3 BXN I S QXB. P--QR3
16 B-NS P-R3 1 7 B--Q2 Q-Q2 18 P-K4 P--QN4, and in both cases
Black had a perfectly satisfactory position.
=,

18
11

If

The Modem BttUmi

N-Q.2

II

P-Q.N4

12 p-K5!

is very strong.

6
W

12 R-KI
III B-N5 was played in the game Lengyel-Langeweg, Havana 1966,
but after 12 ... P-B3 13 B-B4 N-K4 14 N-Q.2 P-Q.N4 15 B-K3 P-N5
16 N-K2 B-Q.R3 17 R-N I P-B4 Black had good counterplay.
After the text move, 12 R-K I , White has a strong position. It is
difficult for Black to achieve active play with the threat of P-K5 always
in the air. The gme Korchnoi-Tal, USSR Championship 1962, con
tinued 12 . .. N-K I 13 B-N B-B3 14 B-K3 R-N I 15 P-Q.R4 P-Q.R3

16 B-KB I ! Q-K2

17 N-Q.2 N-B2

20 N(2)-K4 c;c-Q I

2 1 NXB

24 N5 NXN
BI Q.xp.
R-K I

25 Q.XN B-N2

29 B-Q.B4 B-B I

33 Q-N5 R-K5

R-Q.B5

37 RXR BXR

18 P-B4 P-Q.N4

ch NXN

19 p-K5! PxKP

22 p-Q.6 N-K3

26 Q.-Q.2 Q-Q.2

30 R-BI

R-N5

34 R-KB2 P-B4
38 R-Q.2 B-K3

23 PXKP P-N5

27 K-R2 p-N6
31 BXN BXB

35 Q-B6 Q-Q.2

39 R-Q. I Q-R2

'28 Q.R
32 B-R6

36 RXQ.BP

40 R-Q.2 Q-Q.2

41 R-Q.I Q-R2 42 R-Q.4 Q.-Q.2 43 P-N4 P-R4 44 K-N3 R-NI 45 K-R4

Q-KB2 46 K-N5 PxP 47 PxP B-Q.2 48 R-Q.B4 P-R5 49 R-B7 p-R6
50 RxB Q. x R
A

resigns.

5 I p-K6 Q-R2

52 Q-K5 PxP

53 P-K 7 K-B2

54 P-Q.7

very impressive execution of White's strategy in this line.

(iv) Other ninth moves (from diagram 2)

(a)9 . .
BXN

Q.N-Q.2 loN-Q.2( I OP-Q.R4 N-K I

13 B-R6 N-N2

14 Q-Q.2 P-N3

I I P-K4 N-K4

15 K-RI B-R3

12 NXN

Sliwa-Spassky,
I I P-Q.R4 or 10 . Q
=

Goteborg 1955) 10 ... R-KI (10

P-Q.R3
transpose into lines already discussed) 1 1 P-Q.R4 (11 N-B4
N-N3 12 N-K3 N-N5 is satisfactory for Black, Veltmander-Simagin,
Gorky 1954) 1 1
N-Kf 12 P-R3 P-KN4?1 This idea was tried
out in the game Uhlmann-Larsen, Beverwijk 1961, but after 13 N(Q.2) .

K2(!)

. . .

. .

The Fiandlltlo

K4 NXN

Variation

19

14 NXN P-KR3 IS P-B4 pX P 16 pX P N-N3 17 P-BS N-RS

18 p-B6 Nx B 19 <C-Q.3! N-RS 20 <C-KN3 White had good attacking
chances.
(b) 9 .. . B-NS is a risky attempt to create active play for Black.
10 N-Q.2 (IO P-KR3 BXN 1 1 BXB Q.-Q.2
1 2 B-N2 P-Q.N4 1 3 <C- N3
P-NS 1 4 N-Q.I Q.-N4 led to equal chances in the game Furman
Hershman, Sochi 1 966 ; but the correspondence game Asafov-Nejelov
1 966, produced an improvement in 1 3 P-Q.R4, instead of 1 3 Q.-N3 ,
when after 1 3 .. . P-NS 1 4 N-N I P-BS I S N-Q.2 Q.-B2 16 p-N3 !
White obtained a minimal advantage; 13 '" p-B6 is answered by
17 N-B4 Q.N-Q.2 1 8 B-B4, while Black's prospects are also slightly
worse after 1 6 . . . P x P I7 NX P KN-Q.2 18 N--Q. 4 as occurred in the
game) 10 ... Q.-Q.2 IJ R-KI (II Q.-N3 N-R3 is a complicated possi
bility: it is dangerous to win a pawn now with 1 2 P-B3 B-R6 1 3 B x B
Q.x B 14 Q.x P since after 1 4 .. . N-Q.NS Black has very strong counter
play. Also after 1 2 R-KI Q.R-NI 1 3 P-B3 B-R6 1 4 BXB Q.XB IS
N{Q.2)-K4 P-Q.N4 16 NXQ.P P-BS I7 <C- Q.I Q.-Q. 2 1 8 N{Q.6)-K4 NXN,
Black had compensation for the pawn; Furman-Taimanov, USSR
Championship 1 96 1 ) . IJ ... P-Q.N4 12 P-Q.R4 P-NS 13 N-NI
B-R6. White has the freer position; Marovic-Tatai, Beverwijk 1 967.
There followed 14 P-K4 BXB IS KXB N-N5 1 6 N-B4 B-Q.S 17 R-BI
P-B4 18 P-B3 N-K4 1 9 Nx N BX N 20 N-Q.2 with a slight advan
tage.
(c) 9 . . B-B4 10 N-Q.2 Q.-Q.2 is a similar attempt, but here White
may obtain an advantage with the simple 1 1 P-K4 B-R6 1 2 BXB Q.XB
1 3 Q.-B3. Ineffective, however, would be II Q.-N3 N-R3 1 2 P-K4 B-R6
13 Q.-NS BXB 14 KXB <C-K2 IS P-B3 N--Q. N5 when Black has a good
game; Grunfeld-Udovcic, Belgrade 1 9S2.
(d) 9 . . . P-N3 is strongly answered by 10 B-84 (less convincing is
10 N-Q.2 B-Q.R3 1 1 P--Q.R4 N- KI 12 R-KI N--Q.2 1 3 <C-B2 N-B2
1 4 P-N3 P-B4 15 B-N2 N-K4 1 6 P-B4 N-NS, Lukin-Lutikov, Oriel
1966, when Black has good play). The game Pfleger-Lengyel, Tel
Aviv 1 964, now continued 1 0 . . . N-KI 1 1 Q.-Q. 2 N-Q.2 1 2 B-R6 P-B3
1 3 BXB KXB 1 4 N-KI N-K4 15 P-B4 N-KB2 1 6 P-K4 and Black is
severely constricted.
(e) Finally 9 . . R-KI 10 N-Q.2 {IO B-B4 P--Q.R3 11 P--Q.R4 trans
poses into the Uhlmann-Kluger game mentioned in line (i)) 10 . ..
P-N3 (IO . . . Q.N--Q.2 is line (a) above) JI P-Q.R4 B-Q.R3 (or 1 1 ...
N-R3 1 2 N-B4 N-B2 1 3 B-B4 B-BI 14 R-KI N-R4 I S B--Q.2 ,
Kovacs-Czerniak, Beverwijk 19S5) I2 N-NS BxN 13 PxB Q.N
Q.2 14 P-R3. It is now not clear how Black can satisfactorily free
.

20

his

TIu Modern Bmoni

Queen's side from th bind created by the White pawn at Q.N5.

Florian-Kluger, Budapest 1955 , continued 14

15 P x P e.p. pN4!) RBI

J 6 P-B4

P-Q.1l4

15 R-KI (if

17 P-KN4 N(R4)-B3

. In the game Heemsoth-Gligoric, Hastings 1959-60, Black

continued more calmly with 14

Q.N-B3

. .

16 R-R4! N-R4

. . .

R-IU

15 R-R4 N-KI

16 N-K4

18 Q.3 but here also White had a slight

17 N-B3 N-B2

advantage.

B. The Knight's Tour Variation

6 N-B3 P-1{N3 7 N-Q. (jrom diagram 1)

7
B

White intends to play 8 N-B4 and subsequently, by further attacking

the Black queen's pawn, to force his opponent onto the defensive
leaving the way clear for White to exploit his spatial advantage. How
ever, this plan consumes much time and Black is able to organise
sufficient counterplay.
Occasionally, after

6 N-B3,

an attempt is made to anticipate White's

plan of attacking the Queen's pawn, and

B-K2 is played, but this

is too passive to be satisfactory; for example: 7 P-K4 0-0

9 0-0 N-B2

10 pR3! KR-KI

II Q.-B2 B-N5

8 B-K2 N-R3

12 P-N4 , Furman

Osnos, USSR Championship 1963.

From diagram 7 Black's best plan is to continue his development
with 7

B-N2

8 N-B4 0-0. Other methods are clearly superior for

White. The original Modern Benoni game, Nimzovitch-Marshall, New

York 1927, continued 7

K3! 0-0

Q.N2

II B3 N-R4 ( 1 1

14 N-B4 IC-B2

6 N-B4 N-N3

Q.N2

9 P-K4 B-N2

12 0-0 PR3

10 N

13 PR4 R-NI

15 B-B4 is also better for White; Borisenko-Sokolsky,

The Knight's Tour Variation

21

2 I St USS R Championship 1 954) 1 2 0-0 B-K4 1 3 P-Q.R4 N-KB5

1 4 P-R5 N-Q.2 15 N-B4 with a marked advantage to White.
After 7 . .. Q.N-Q.2 8 N-B4 N-N3 9 P-K4, however, Black may secure
satisfactory chances with 9 ... N X N! (instead of 9 '" B-N2) lO BX N
B-N2 II 0-0 0-0 1 2 B-B4 (or 1 2 P-KR3 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 R-K I
14 R-KI N-R4 1 5 Q-Q.2 Q-R5 1 6 Q-N5 Q.xQ. =, Vukovic-Trifunovic,
Yugoslav Championship 1 957) 1 2 ... P-Q.R3 13 P-Q.R4 NR4! ( 1 3 . ..
R-K I leaves White with the advantage after 14 R-KI P-N3 1 5 Q-Q.2
N-R4 1 6 B-KN5 B-B3 1 7 B XB Q.XB 1 8 B-B I , Gligoric-Czerniak,
Amsterdam 1 954) 14 B-K3 R-Kl 15 Q-Q.2 R-N I and Black has
adequate counterplay, Gligoric-Trifunovic, Yugoslav Championship
1 957. It is therefore most accurate for White to reply to 7 ... Q.N-Q.2
with 8 p-K4! B-N2 9 N-B4 N-N3 1 0 N-K3 transposing into the
Nimzovitch-Marshall game without allowing Black this equalising
opportunity.
Another unsatisfactory i'ystem is 7 .. . N-R3 8 N-B4 N-B2. The game
Donner-Estrada, Varna 1 962, continued 9 P-Q.R4 P-N3 1 0 P-K4
B-Q.R3 I I B-N5- P-R3 1 2 B-R4 B x N 1 3 B X B B-N2 1 4 0-0 0-0
1 5 P-B4 Q-Q.2 16 P-K5 with a tremendous position for White.
We now come to the main variation from diagram 7 :
B--N2
7 .. .
8 N-B4
8 P-K4 0-0 9 D-Q.3 is harmless ; for example, 9 ... N-R3! 1 0 0-0
(or 1 0 N-B4 N-B2 I I P-Q.R4 P-N3 1 2 B-B4 rN-KI
Gerusel
Martius, Munich 1959) 10 ... N-B2 I I P-Q.R4 N-N5 1 2 B-K2 P-B4
1 3 B X N P XB 14 N-B4 Q-K2 1 5 Q.-Q.3 P-N3 with equal chances,
Darga-Gereben, Amsterdam 1 954.
8 .. .
0--0
=,

8
W

9 B-B4
An interesting

idea analysed by the Dutch players is 9 B-N5.

Donner-

22

TIu Modern Bmoni

Langeweg, Beverwijk 1 963, continued 9

JI P-QR4 P-KN4

12 B-N3 N-KI

... P-KR3

13 P-K4 P-B4

10 B-R4 P-R3

14 pXP BXP

15 B

K2 P-N3

16 0--0 R-R2 17 B-N4 with advantage to White. Black also

failed to equalise in the game Van den Berg-Robatsch from the same
tournament ; after 9 B-N5 P-KR3 10 B-R4 N-R3 II P-K3 N-B2
12 P-QR4 P;-N3 13 B-K2 B-N2 140--0 Ie-K2 IS P-K4! it was difficult
for Black to free his position.
After this game Robatsch suggested that after 9 B-N5 P-KR3 10 B
R4 Black can unpin with 10 ... 1C-Q.2(!) at the same time threatening
. . . P-QN4 .This was successfully tried out in the game Langeweg-van
den Berg, Dutch Championship 1963, wt..!'. after II B-N3 P-QN4!
12 NXQ.P B-R3 13 P-K3 P-N5 14 N-R4 BXB 15 KXB N-R3 Black's
active play and attacking chances fully compensate for White's extra
pawn. If, after 10 ... 1e-Q.2, White prevents ... P-QN4 with II P-QR4
Black can play 1 I ...N-R3 followed by ... N-QN5, ...P-N3, and ... B-R3
with good chances ; weaker, however, would be II ... Ie-N5 12 BXN
Q.XN (or 12 .. BXB 13 NXP) 13 BXB KXB 14 P-K3 IC-Q.N5 15 le
Q.2 (Euwe) .
N-KI
9...
White cannot now win the Q.P: 10 N-N5 B-Q.2 (or IO ... B X P II N X B
Q-R4ch) II N(N5)Q. X P P-QN4 12NXN BXN I3 N-K5 Q-Q.3 I4N-Q3
Q.X P =F; or 10 N-K4 P-QN4 II N(B4) x P N X N 12 B X N R-KI wins.
For the intriguing 9 ... p-N3 !? see Donner-Planinc annotated on
page 83 .
10 Q,-Q,2
_

This move was originally suggested by Konstantinopolsky. Alternatives

cause Black no trouble. If 10 P-K4 p-B4! is dangerous only for White ;
while 10 P-K3 P-KN4 1 I B-N3 P-B4 is also good for Black. For example,
12 P-B4 (12Q-Q.2 BXN 13 P x B P-N4 14 N-N2 Q-K2gave Black play
on both wings in the correspondence game Ovtshinkin-Shaposhnikov,

The Knight's TOfIT VtII'ialitm

23

1959) 12 .,. K2 13 Q-Q2 PXP (it is inaccurate to delay this since

after 13 ... N-Q.2 14 B-K2 PXP 15 P x p! gives White the advantage;
e.g. 15 ... Q.N-B3 16 P-Q.R4 P-N3 17 0-0 B-Q.2 18 B-R4 KB2
19 B-B3 , Suetin-Kagan, Tallin 1956) 14 BXP N-Q.2 15 B-K2
N-K4 and Black's hold on the important central squares gives him the
better prospects, Shamkovitch-Vasiukov, Moscow 1957.
Now White is really threatening N-N5 or N-K4 winning the queen's
pawn. Black's usual replies are restricted to 10 ... P-N3and 10 ... B XN.
A very interesting, but hardly convincing, recent attempt is the sacrifice
of a pawn with 10 .. , N-Q.2?!, Yudovitch-Koslov, Moscow 1966, con
tinued II NXQ.P N-K4 12 NXN N-B5 1? 13 Q-Q3 NXP 14 B2
RXN 15 Q.XN P-Q.N4 16 P-Q.R3 P-N5 I7 pXP R-K51 18 B-R6
RXNP 19 Q-Q2 B-B3 but the soundness of this is exceedingly doubt
ful.

(i)

10

. .

P-N3

This is the most natural continuation. Attempts to win the Black

queen's pawn again fail now, for if II N-N5 B-Q.R3 12 N(N5) XQ.P
NXN 13 NXN P-KN41 14 B-N3 p-B4! and White's play is refuted;
or II N-K4B-Q.R3 12 N(B4) XQ.P NX N 13 BXN R-KI 14 BX N RXN
followed by ... R-Q. 5 with the better game.
1 1 P-K3
The only real alternative to this is II N-N5 B-Q.R3 12 P-Q.R4 but
after 12 ... BXN 13 P XB N-Q.2 Black has excellent prospects, since
14 NXQ.P ? N(Q.2)-B3 15 NXN RXN 16 R-Q.I N-K5 17 B2 Q.--B3
gives him a very dangerous attack, Goldin-Shaposhnikov, Correspon
dence I962;andI4P-K3N-K4 15 BXN BXB 16 NXB PXN 17B-K2
N-Q. 3 is also better for Black, Sliwa-Suetin, Poland v Bielorussia
1958.
1 1 ...

IZ P-Q.R..f
Less accurate is the immediate 12 ... Q.B X N 13 Bx B P-Q.R3since White
may obtain a minimal advantage after 14 0-0 N-Q.2 (or 14 ... K2
15 Q.R-NI N-Q.2 16 KR-Bl P-B4 17 PN4 with the better chances
for White, Borisenko-Polugaievsky, 23rd USSR Championship 1956)
1 5 Q.R-N I P-B4 16 B-KN3 Q.-B3 (worse is 16 ... K2 17 KR-KI N-K4
1 8 B-B l N-B3 1 9 P-K4 , Taimanov-Suetin, 25th USSR Champion
ship 1958.
13 B-Kz
1 3 P-R4is not dangerous: 1 3 . . . Q.B XN 14 B XB PR3 15 K2 N-KB3

24

Tile Modern Benoni

16 3 R-R2 11 P-KN3 N-N5 and Black gained the initiative,

Borisenko-Boleslavsky, 28th USSR Championship Ig6 1.
13
Q;-B3

IfB-N3
15 B x B

B xN
P-Q.R3

And Black, who is now a tempo ahead of the lines given in the note
to move twelve, has a completely satisfactory game. Osnos-Forintos,
Leningrad v Budapest 1962, continued 16 0 -0 N-Q.2 11 P-B4 N- B2
18B-B2 P-Q.N4 Ig pX P N-N3 20 B-K2 P X P 21 BX P NX B 22 NX N
Q.X p with level chances.

(ii)

10

BX N

(from diagram 9)

This very aggressive move is due to Tal. Black gives up his fianchettoed
bishop in order to activate his queen's side majority of pawns. The play
is complicated, but Black's chances are not worse.
11

P xB

IJ

Q.XB is a little tested alternative. After I I ... P-Q.N4 12 N -Q.2 P-N5

14!CK4 !CB3 150-0-0 a very wild and difficult game
is in store, Matsukevitch-Suetin, semi-final 24th USSR Championship
1951

13!C B2!CK2

11 ...

P-Q.N4

10
W

Steinitz would certainly have approved of Black's play; with all his
pieces on the back rank he has a good position.

12 N-N2

B-N2

Also satisfactory is 12 .. . P-B4, for example 13 P-Q.R4!CR4 14 P-K3

B-R3 15 !CBI P-N5 16 P-B4 N -Q.2 11 P-R4 Q.N-B3 =+=, Koblentz
Shaposhnikov, 4th USSR Correspondence Championship. Insufficient
for equality, however, are: (a) 12 ... P-Q.R4? 13 p-K4 ! Q.-K2 14 B
Q.3 (or 14 P-B3 B-R3 15 P-Q.R4 P-N5 16 BXB RXB 17 0-0 N -Q.2

Uklmallll's Line

25

18 XR-XI P-B3 1 9 B-R6 N-N2 20 P-B4 , Koblentz-Kagan, Tallin

1 956) P-N5 1 5 0-0, Borisenko-Tal, Riga 1 955, with advantage to
White; and (b) 1 2 . . . Q-X2? 13 P-Q,R4 ! pXP 1 4 P-N3 N-N2 1 5 B
N2 P-B3 1 6 P-R4 N-Q2 I 7 0-0 , Najdorf-Larsen, Dallas 1 957.
13P-N3
13 p-x4? fails to 13 . . . Q-X2 1 4 B-Q3 B x P .
N-Q.2
13...
P-B4
14 B-N2
Q.N-B3
IS 0--0
Also 1 5 . . . Q-X2 16 B-N5 XN-B3 1 7 Q,R-KI N-K5 is not bad, but here
1 7 . . . Q-B2 1 8 P-QB4 gives White some advantage, Lebedev-Tal,
Riga 1 955.
16 P-Q.1lf
P-Q.R3
The chances are equal. Antoshin-Tal, U S S R Championship 1 956, con
tinued I7 P x P (better is 1 7 p-B4) P x P 1 8 P-B4 B-R3 1 9 R-R5 P x P
20 KR-RI N-B2 with good play for Black.

C. Uhlmann's Line
6 N-B3P-K.N3 ,B-NS (from diagram /)
11
B

This line was fashionable in the late 1960 s following its successful
adoptiQn by the East German grandmaster Uhlmann. White's strategy
is very similar to that of the Averbach system in the King's Indian
defence: Black is tempted to play ... P-KR3 and P-KN4 which weakens
the white squares near his king. If Black does not do this, the White
bishop at KN5 exerts a cramping influence on his game .
Black's only reasonable replies are 7 ... P-KR3 and 7 ... B-N2.

26

The Modern Bmonj

(i) 7 ... P-KR3

8 B-1lf

If 8 B-B4 P-KN4 (8 ... N-R4!? also deserves consideration) and White

has nothing better than 9 B-N3 transposing to the main line.
P-KN4
8 ...
N-Rf
9B-N3
loP-K3
Complicated, but not good for White, is 1 0 Q,-R4 ch B-Q,2 (better than
IQ
N-Q.2 1 1 N-N5 ! when it is difficult for Black to complete his
development; not however 1 1 Q-K4 ch? Q,-K2 1 2 B X P Q, x Q, 1 3 N x Q,
P-B4 1 4 B X B P X N 1 5 B X RP R X B 1 6 N X P p-K6 ! +, Shadurski
Suetin, Vladimir 1 962) 1 1 Q-K4 ch Q,-K2 12 B X P Q, x Q, 1 3 N XQ,
P-B4 1 4 B X N R X B when Black's powerful bishops and mobile pawns
provided ample compensation for the sacrificed pawn. The game
Geller -Suetin, Moscow 1 960, continued 1 5 N-B3 P-N4 1 6 N-K5 P-N5
17 N-Q, I (if 17 N x B K X N 1 8 N-R4 K-Q, 3 1 9 P-K3 N-B3 20 B-B4
N-Q,2 ! with advantage to Black) 17 .. . B-N2 with equal chances.
1 0 P-K4 transposes into lines considered below or may lead into a
King's Indian, Averbach variation.
10 .. .
N xB
B-N2
JI RP x N
12 N-Q.2
An interesting idea is 1 2 N-R2 0-0 1 3 N-N4. Bondarevsky -Bilek,
Leningrad v Budapest 1 96 2 , continued 1 3 ... B X N 1 4 Q, X B P-B4
1 5 Q-Q,R4 N-Q.2 16 B-K2 P-R3 17 Q-B2 P-N4 1 8 0-0 Q,-B3 with
satisfactory play for Black.
0--0
12 . "
Also sufficient for equality is 1 2 . . . P-R3 1 3 P-R4 N--Q.2! For example
1 4 B-K2 Q,-K2 (also 1 4 . . . N-K4 1 5 N-B4 N X N 1 6 BXN B-Q, 2 1 7 Q,
B2 R-N I 1 8 P-R5 P-N4, Osmanagic-Portisch, Sarajevo 1 962; and
1 4 . . . P-N3 15 N(B3)-K4 N-B3 1 6 N X N ch Q, X N, Stahlberg -Portisch,
Havana 1 964, are both comfortable equalising methods) 1 5 N-B4
N-K4 1 6 N-N6 R-Q, N I 1 7 P-R5 0-0 1 8 N (B3)-R4 B-B4 and Black
maintained the balance, Cob a - Wade, Havana 1 964.
13 N-B4
Slower methods are not dangerous to Black. An interesting example is
the game Neikirch-Ivkov, Leipzig 1 960, which continued 13 B-K2
N-Q,2 14 0-0 N-N3 1 5 N-N3? ( 1 5 N-B4
) B-Q,2 1 6 R-N I N-R5
17 Q,-B2 N x N 1 8 P x N P-N4 with advantage to Black.
13 . . .
Q.-K2

UllJfI'IIIIfII S LiM

17

13 '" N-R3 is more risky; for example the game Ketslach-Karasev,

Leningrad C hampionship 1964, continued 14 N-B 1 5 P-It4
Q;- K2 16 B -Q. 3P-B4 1 7 K-B I B-Q.2 1 8 K-N I Q.R-KI 1 9 P-KN4 with
sharp and difficult play.
14 B-Q.3
14 B-K2 R-Q. I I S 0-0 N-Q. 2 1 6 P-R4 N-K4 1 7 N X N (if 1 7 N-R3
P-NS ! gives Black a bind on the king's side), Botvinnik-Tal, match
1 960, and now 1 7 '" B X N gives Black no worries.

I
B

N-Q.2
14 . . .
1 4 . . . P-B4 is too weakening; the game Geller-Langeweg, Varna 1 962,
concluded drastically: I S 0-0 B X N 16 PXB P-N4 N-Q.2 P-Q.B5
18 B-B2 B-N2 1 9 Q;-NI Q;-Q.2 20 N-B3 B XP 21 N-Q.4 B-K3 Q.XP
P-R3 23 Q;-N6 P-Q.R4 24 Nx B Q. x N 2 S Q.R-Q.I resigns.
1 4 . . . N-R3 is a rs:asonable possibility, though; Bagirov-Vasiukov,
Baku I96 I , continued I S R-Q.BI N-B2 I6 P R4 P-N3 1 7 K-B I R-NI
I 8 K-N I P-R3 I9 P-KN4 P-N4 20 P x P P x P 2 I N-RS B -Q.2 with
chances for both sides.
15 B-B2
Good for Black is I S 0-0 N-14 I 6 N X N Q. X N I7 R-KI B-Q.2 1 8 R-NI
P-N5, Germek-Tal, Bled I 96r. Also inferior for White is 1 5 N-NS N-K4
1 6 N (N5) xQ.P N X N I7 N X N P-N4.
15
N-Kf
Q. x N
16 N x N
Black has a very healthy position. In the game Krzsnik -Rabar, Yugo
slav Championship 1 962, there followed I7 Q;-Q.3 P-B4 18 P-KN4
B-Q.2 I 9 o-o? (better I 9 p X P B X P 20 Q;-Q.2 with equality) P-Q.N4 !
and Black has the advantage, for 20 Q.X P P-B5 gives a very dangerous
attack.
-

We have thus seen that 7 . . . P-KR3 gives Black entirely, adequate

28

Th4 Modern Bmoni

resources. In order to avoid this line, White often adopts a more

flexible move order, delaying B-N5 until after he has played P-K4.
For instance, from diagram I, 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-N5,
or 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 P-K4 B-N2 8 B-N5. These lines transpose into the
variation with 7 . B-N2 discussed below. The only disadvantage White
suffers by delaying B-N5 in this way is that in some variations it is useful
to have the opportunity of playing P-K3 instead of P-K4. Now this
possibility is no longer available.
. .

(ii) 7

...

B-N2
I,
W

White now has three possibilities: (a) 8 N-Q,2, (b) 8 P-K3, and (c) 8 P-K4,
of which the latter is by far the most common, though usually reached
by the transposition mentioned above.

(a) 8 N-Q2 P-KR3

This is the most forceful continuation. Also playable is 8 . . 0-0 when
9 P-K3 transposes to line (b) , and 9 P-K4 to line (c). Suspect, however,
is 8 . P-Q,R3 9 P--Q.R4 P-R3 1 0 B-R4 P-KN4 I I B-N3 N-R4 1 2 N-B4
N X B 1 3 RP X N 0-0 1 4 Q-N3 ! , Averbach-Vasiukov, U SSR Cham
pionship 1 959.
P-KN4
9B-14
loB-N, N-14
If here 1 0
P--Q.R3, II p-K3 ! is good, since Black is prevented from
exchanging the White queen's bishop by . . . N-R4 and his king's side
is compromised for no compensation.
11 Q.-I4' ch
II N-B4 Nx B
12 RP X N 0-0 1 3 P-K3 Q,-K2 1 4 B-K2 R-Q,I was
played in the second match game Botvinnik-Tal 1 960, and White
secured some pressure. After the game Tal made two suggestions for
.

. .

Uhlmann's Line

29

Black to obtain more active play: firstly 14

P-KB4 instead of 14
R-QI is more logical ; and secondly, the previous move there was the
very active continuation of 1 2
B X N 13 P x B P-N4 14 N-Q.2 P-QR4
1 5 P-K4 P-N5. This was tried in the game Neikirch-Bobotsov, Bulgarian
Championship 1 960, when after the further moves 1 6 B-N5 ch B-Q2
1 7 B X B ch N x B the position is quite equal and the players agreed a
draw.
K-BI
IJ ...

If
W

I Q.-N3
1 2 P-K4 was played in the game Ternblom-Neistadt, Leningrad
Championship 1 964 ; but after 1 2
N X B 1 3 RPx N P-Q.R3 14 B-K2
N-Q.2 15 P-B4 p-N4! 1 6 Q.-l!2 P-B5 Black was able to proceed with
17
N-B4 and gain the initiative.
1 2 P-K3 occurred in Uhlmann-Garcia, Mar del Plata 1 966, when
after. 1 2 '" N X B 1 3 RP X N N-Q.2 14 Q.-B2 N-K4 1 5 B-K2 P-R3
1 6 P-R4 White had some advantage. Better here is to continue as in
the game above with 1 3
P-R3 instead of . . . N-Q.2 when it will be
impossible for White to delay
P-Q.N4 for long.
I ...
NxB
P-Nf!
13 RPxN
This is Tal's analysis. After 14 N X P B-R3 1 5 P-K3 N-Q.2 Black has
excellent counterplay for the pawn.

. .

. .

. . .

(b) 8 P-KS 0-0 (from diagram IS)

9 N-Q.2

(see diagraTJl 15)

This is the solid way to play the variation. White should be able to
maintain the initiative for some time.
9 . ..
R-KI
This is the usual move, but other possibilities also provide some chances.
9
P-KR3 1 0 B-R4 N-R3?! was tried in the game Bannik-Suetin,
. .

30

The Modern Bmoni

Sochi

1961 , when after II B-K2 N-B2 I2 0 -0 P--Q.N4 I3 NXP N x N

14 KBXN R-NI 15 K2 P-N4 16 B-N3 NXP Black had a good posi
tion. In this line 12 P--Q.R4 instead of 12 0 -0 seems more calculated to
retain a p lus.
9 .. . P--Q.R3 10 P--Q.R4 Q,N-Q,2 11 B-K2 transposes to the main line
after 1 1 ... R-KI or 1 1 ... B2 12 0 -0 R-KI. Unsatisfactory, however,
is 1 1 ... B2 12 0 -0 N-N3 as in Filip-Lokvenc, Marianske Lazne
15
B

1 960, when there followed 1 3 P-K4 B-Q,2 14 B2 Q.R-K I 15 R-KI

-RI 1 6 B-KB4 with advan tage to White.
10B -1U
If 10 N-B4 Q.2 ! 1 1 B-B4 N-K5 12 NXN RXN (analysis by Tal).
P-Q.R3
10 . ..
11 P-Q.llf
Q.N -Q.2
120-0
Q.-B2
12 ... R-NI is the main alternative, but White may gain a slight
advantage with 13 B-KB4 N-K4 14 P-R5 KN-Q.2 15 B-N3 P-B4
16 P-K4 N-KB3 I7 PXP BXP 18 BXN PXB 19 N-B4, Simagin
Suetin, 2 7th USSR Championship 1 960.
13 Q.-B2
13 R-BI may be more accurate ; the radio game Stahlberg-Keres
1 960, continued 13 ... P-N3 14 P-K4 P-R3 when 15 B-R4 would
maintain a little advantage.
13.
N-N3
Weaker is 13 '" R-NI when White preserves a plus by 14 P-R5 P-N4
15 pXP e.p. Q.RXP 1 6 N-B4 R-N5 I7 B-B4, Mohring-Golz, Zinno
witz 1 966.
14 B-B3
14 P-K4 is impossible owing to the tactical possibility 14 ... KNXQ,P!
15 PXN BXN 16 Q,XB RXB I7B-R6 It-K4 with a sound extra pawn.
We are following the 8th match game, Botvinnik-Tal l 960, in which

Uhlmann's Line
Tal now played

31

14
P-BS ? ! but after I S B X N (IS P-RS is also strong,
Q.N--Q.2 1 6 R4 neither 1 6
P-N4 1 7 p x p e.p. N X P
I 8 B6, nor 1 6
N-K4 1 7 B X N B--Q.2 1 8 B X N ! is satisfactory for
Black). I S
B X B 1 6 P-RS N--Q.2 1 7 N(B3)-K4 B-K4 1 8 Q. X BP
for after

IS

. .

. .

Black had insufficient compensation for the pawn. Tal suggested after
the game that

14

B-B4

I S P-K4 B-Q.2 followed by . . N-B I was

.

Black's best chance for equality.

Since at the best this line is somewhat uncomfortable for Black, he does
his best to avoid the whole variation by playing

7 . . . P-KR3 as in line (i).

/(c) 8 P-K4 (from diagram 13)

J6
B

As mentioned above, this line has many features in common with the

Averbach system of the King's Indian, into which it will almost

certainly transpose if White play B-K2 soon. There are, however, some
subtle differences which give this line a character of its own. Black's
main replies are

8 . . . P-Q.R3 and 8 .. . P-KR3 ! Besides these

8 ... R4 ? which
here is quite out of context. PetrosianContedini, Munich I 9S8, con
tinued 9 N--Q.2 0-0 1 0 N-B4 I
I I B--Q.3 P-N3 1 2 0-0 B--Q.R3
1 3 P-B4 B2 1 4 P-KS with a crushing position.
8 ..

0-0,

the only move to have occurred in -master play is

(i) 8

...

0-0

This reply invites White to transpose into the Averbach system at once
with

9 B-K2 , and since this is a natural move the line appears to have

little individual significance. White may, however, continue more

accurately:

9 N--Q.21

Now Black is prevented from playing

It

.. . P-KR3, . . . P-KN4 and . .. N-R4.

is thus very difficult for him to free his position.

The Modern Benoni

3 lZ

P-Q.R3
Q.-B2

9
10 P-Q.llf

Also better for White is 10 . . . Q.N-Q.2

1 3 B-R4 P-KN4

1 4 B-N3 N-K4

II B-K2 R-KI

15 Q-B2 P-N3

1 2 0-0 P-R3

J6 Q.R-NI

R-R2

1 7 P -N4, Polugaievsky-Lutikov, RSFSR Championship 1 958.

JJ

B-K2

White has now transposed into a position that can be reached from the
Averbach system, but only if Black plays very weakly! That is, after
I P-Q.4 N-KB3
0-0

2 P-Q.B4 P-KN3

6 B-N5 P -B4

3 N-Q.B3 B-N2

7 P-Q.5 P-K3

continues 9 . . . P-Q.R3?

4 P-K4 P-Q.3

8 N-B3 Px P

5 B-K2

9 BP XP, if Black

II N-Q.2 . It is therefore

ID P-Q.R4 Q-B2

scarcely surprising that this position is better for White. The game
Shamkovitch-Spassky, semi-final USSR Championship 1 9 58, continued
1 2 0-0 P-B3

II . . . KN-Q.2
R-K I

16 Q-N3 N-Q.2

13 B-R4 N-K4

1 7 Q.R-K I R-NI

14 P-B4 N':"'B2

15 N-B4

1 8 B-N4! with great advantage

to White.
Other tries for Black after 8 . . . 0-0
For example: 9 ... N-R3
P-KR3

13 B-R4 Q.-K2

9 N-Q.2 ! are also unsatisfactory.

10 B-K2 N-B2

14 P-B4 K R-KI

I I P -Q.R4 B-Q.2
1 5 P-K 5 Px P

Taimanov-Casas, Santa Fe 1960; or 9 . . . P-KR3

II B-K2 N-R3

1 2 0-0 N-B2

13 P-R4 P-N3

12 0-0

16 N-B4 ,

10 B-R4 R-K I

14 P-B4 , Taimanov

A. Zaitsev, 30th USSR Championship 1 962. The best attempt is 9 . . .

Q.N-Q.2

1 0 B-K2 Q-K2

I I 0-0 P-K R3

12 B-R4 P-KN4

13 B-N3 N-K4

as in the game Cholmov-Petrosian, 21St USSR Championship 19 54, but

now Suetin's recommendation of 14 B X N Q.x B

(ii) 8

15 N-B4 Q.-K2

16 P

17 p-Q.6 i s very dangerous for Black.

K 5 Px P

. . .

P-Q,R3 (from diagram r6)

9 P-Q.llf

9 N-Q.2 ! is very strong here. Compare the variations given below after
8 . . . P-KR3

9 B-R4 P-R3

10 N-Q.2!

P-R3
9 .. .
10 B-B41 ?
10 B-R4 transposes, after 10 ... P -K N4
13 RP XN N-Q.2

10 ...
I I B-K2
12 0-0

II B-N3 N-R4

12 N-Q.2 N X B

14 B-K 2, into the Tolush-Suetin game quoted below.

B-NS
0-0

If 12 N-Q.2 Bx B

1 3 Q.x B N-R4

14 B-K 3 P-B4

1 6 P-K N4 ? fails to 16 . . . N-B5 (analysis by Tal).

15 P x P R XP and

Uhlmann's Line
.Ui

33

R-KI

. .

Black's posIhon is satisfactory. The game Geller-Tal, 26th USSR

Championship 1 959, continued I Q;-B2 (if 1 3 P-R3 NXKP ! ) Q;-B2
1 4 K R-KI QN-Q2
15 P -R3 BXN 1 6 B XB P-B5 I7 B-K2 QR-BI with
active play.

(ill ) 8

. . .

P-KR3! (from diagram 16)

98-14

9 B-B4 has also been played occasionally. Black may then play 9 ...

P -R3 transposing into the Geller-Tal game above after 1 0 P-QR4 ,

or 9 '"
N-K4

0 B-N5 ch ( 10 B-BI 0-0

P-KN4

1 3 N-BI p-N4 ! ?

I I N-Q2 QN-Q2

1 2 B-K2

1 5 N-N3 P -B5 with good

14 KBXP Q-R4

play for the sacrificed pawn, Cuellar-Fischer, Sousse 1967)

K -BI

I I B-K 3 N-N5

1 5 P x P NXN ch

12 N-Q2 P-R3

1 3 B-K2 N-Q.2

10 . ..

14 P-K R4 K N-K4

1 6 P XN P XP with a difficult game for both players,

Uhlmann-Golz, Zinnowitz 1 967.

17

P-KN4

In view of the dangers arising after I I B-N5 ch in this line, it has been

suggested that Black should avoid this move by playing 9 . . . P -QR3,

and only after 1 0 P-R4 continuing with 10 . . . P-K N4. However, White
has a much better move than 10 P-R4 at his disposal, viz.: 10 N-Q2 !
I I B-K2 (less good is I I P-R4 when after

For example, 10 .. . P -Q.N4

II . .. P-N5
QN-Q2

1 2 QN-NI 0--0

13 B-Q 3 R-KI

1 4 0 --0 Q;-B2!

15 Q;-B2

16 N-B4 p-N6 ! Black has a good game, Veresov-Suetin,

Bielorussia 1 96 I )

I I . . . 0-- 0

inaccurate, for after 13 . . . P-N5

13 0-- 0 (still 13 P -14 is

12 Q;-B2 R-K I
1 4 N-Q.I P-N4

1 5 B-N3 Q;-K2

16 0-- 0

as in the game Langeweg-Keene, Brunnen 1 966, simply 16 . . . NXKP

is good for Black) QN-Q2
a-NI

1960.

1 7 P-B4

1 4 P-R4 P -N5

, Taimanov-Boleslavsky

15 N-QI p-N6

16 Q;-Q 3

USSR Team Championship

The Modern Bmmai

34

lo N3
N-Rt
N5ch
II N-Q.2 N x B I2 RPXN ()-{)
u

13 D-K2 leads into the Averbach system

of the King's Indian. Weaker here is 12 . . . P-R3

14 B-K2 N-K4 (or 14 . . . !C-K2

N4! , Uhlmalln-Keene, Hastings 1966-7)

13 P-R4 Q.N

16 !C-B2 B-Q. S

IS P-RS R-NI

17 B

IS P-KN4 !C-Q.2 as in

Tolush-Suetin, semi-final 26th USSR Championship 19S9, and now

16 P-B3 gives White a distinct pull.
JI

K-BIl

. .

1 1 . .. B-Q2? leaves White with a marked advantage after 12 B XB ch

Q.X B

13 N-KS! as was shown in the games Szabo-Klein, Santa Fe

1960, and Forintos-Dolz, Hungary v East Gennany f964.

III

Kal

12 ()-{) P-R3

13 B-K2 NXB

14 BPXN? is dubious.

vberhausen 196 1, continued: 14 . .. N-Q.2

P-KR4
P XP
!C-K2

17 N-Q.! N-K4
21 P-KN3 P-B3
2S R-KI R-R6

III ...

13 RP xN

NxB

18 R-R3 R-Q.R2
22 N-B2 B--QS

26 P-KS Q.x P

Szabo-Perez,

IS P-Q.R4 P-N3
19 N

xN

BXN

23 K-RI Q.R-02

27 Resigns.

16 !C-B2

20 P-KN4
24 N X P

cf. p. 84.

18
B

This very interesting position is of great importance for the theory of

the Modern Benoni. White's plan is a gradual advance of the king's
side pawns combined with pressure on the white squares and in parti
cular KBS, where eventually he hopes to establish a knight. In contrast
Black has very good play on the black squares and attacking possi
bilities on the queen's side. The prospects are about even.

13 .,.
14 N--Q.2

N--Q.lI
P-R3

It is better not to omit tftis move. The game Pietzsch-Tringov, Havana

1965, continued instead 14 ... N-K4

IS p-B4l? N-N3

16 B-RS pXP

UlalmIJIIII'S LW

35

1 7 B X N P X B 18 p X P P-Q.N4 ?! 19 Q-B2 P-N5 20 N-K2 B -1l3 21 N

B3 K-N I 22 P-K5 with a promising attack. Another example of this
line is Vogt-Espig, East German Championship 1968, which went
14 '" N-K4 15 P-B4 N-N3 16 B-1l5 Q-B3, and now Maric suggests
171'-KS ! P X P 18 N(Q.2)-K4 Q-B4 1 9 P-KN4 Q. X BP 20 B X N Q-K6 ch
21 K-B I ! P X B 22 R-1l3 and Black is in difficulties.
N-K4
IS P-R.f
I S . . . Q.-K2 16 Q-P2 B-Q.S is a logical plan, suggested by the author.
Mecking-Keene, Hastings 1966-7, continued 1 7 R-KB I ! ? K-N2 1 800-0 P-N4 1 9 p x p and now 19
p x p gives Black excellent prospects.
16 Q.-B2
16 N-B I was played In the game Golz-Pietzsch, Colditz 1967, with the
continuation 1 6 . . . Il-Q.N I
1 7 N-K3 P-KIl4 ? ! 18 Q;-B2 P NS with
complications. Ma.rie recommends the immediate 1 6
P-KIl4 ! when
after 1 7 Il X P R X R 1 8 B X R P-NS 1 9 P-B4 p x p e.p. 20 P X P Q-N3

'H

Black has more than sufficient compensation for the pawn.

16 ...
1 7 P-RS

R-Q.NI
P-N4!

Black played less actively in the game Uhlmann-Pade'lsky, Zagreb

1 965, with 1 7 . . . B-B3 1 8 N-Q.I P-N4 19 pxp e.p. R X P 20 R-Q.R2

K-N2 and White won with a superb example of the model strategy in
this line. The game is given in full at the end of this section.

18 P xP e.p.
19 Q.R-R2

RxP
P-NS!

Black keeps White's king's side under restraint and thereby makes it
difficult for his opponent to undertake any active operations. We are
following the game Pietzsch-Capello, Havana

20 N-Q.I P-KR4

21 N-K3 R-N5

1 966. There followed

22 N(K3)-B4 N X N !Z3 N X N Q-K2 and

Black's position is quite satisfactory. It is difficult for White to develop

his king's rook since if

24 0-0 p-R5! gives a strong attack.

Illustrative Game
White: Uhbnann Black: Padevsky Zagreb 1965
I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.S P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 P x P S P x P
P-Q.3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-KNS P-KR3 9 B-1l4 P-KN4
IO B-N3 N-R4
1 1 B-NS ch K-B I 12 B-K2 N X B %3 RP X N P-R3
1 4 P-R4 N-Q.2 I S N-Q.2 N-K4 16 Q-B2 R-Q.N I 1 7 P-RS B-B3 18 N
Q.I P-N4 1 9 p X P e.p. R X P 20 R-Q.R2 K-N2 21 N-K3 R-K I 22 0-0
K-N I 23 P-KN4 R-NS 24 P-KN3 N-N3 25 N-B5 B X N 26 NP X B
N-K4 27 B X P P-NS 28 B-K2 B-N4 29 N-B4 Q;-B3 30 P-N3 P-R4
3 1 K-N2 P-RS 3 2 P X P B X P 33 P-KRI N X N 34 B X N Q-K2 3 5 P-

36

The Modern Bnumi

K5! p x p

36

R6 Q.X p ch

Q-1C4 B-B3 37 Q. x p ch B-N2

40 K-NI resigns.

38

9 R (R6)

R-Q,R6 Q.-Q.2

D. The Main Line

6

P-Ki P-KN3

N-B3 B-Na

B-Ka

(from diagram

I)

19

This vanatlon is one of the soundest and most natural methods of

playing against the Modern Benoni. White chooses a logical plan of
development with neither the apparent timidity of the fianchetto
variation, nor the forthright hostility of the pawn storm lines.
This was the most common treatment of the opening at the time when
Tal was establishing himself as a World Championship contender. A
number of spectacular victories scored by him caused the line to fall
into disfavour, and even after some of Tal's ideas were shown to be
incorrect there remained some suspicion of the line.
However,

the

Yugoslav

grandmaster

Gligoric

has

consistently

adopted this system and enriched it with many new ideas, and recently
the line has regained its popularity and is now the most often en
countered line of the Modern Benoni. On the whole it may be con
sidered the most promising method of dampening Black's aggressive
desires while preserving possibilities of exploiting the latent advantages
in the White position. White' must play with the utmost care though,

as Tal's o ponents have tended to discover to their cost.

a...
9 0-0

0-0

Other lines such as

9 B-B4 or 9 N-Q.2 do no more than transpose, for

White must castle soon in any case.

The Main Line

37

Now Black has a host of possible moves of which only the most
natural, 9 . . . R-K I , has ever gained any real popularity. This is a little
surprising, for 9 . R-KI is by no means an easy equalising line for
Black, and some of the alternatives deserve further analysis.
.

20

The most important possibilities here are 9 . . P--QR3 and 9 . . R-K I ,

but before analysing these i n detail, I shall give a resume of the
experiences gained with the other choices :
(a) 9 . . . B-N 5? I Q P -KR3 (also good is 10 B-KB4 R-K I I I P -K R3 !
as i n the game Korchnoi-Lutikov, US S R Championship 1 959, which
continued 11 . . , N XKP 12 P XB B XN 13 B--QN5 B XP 14 B XR Q. XB
.

15 R-K I B XR

16 Q. XB P-B4

Q. XP

resigns)

20 R XN

13 Q-Q.2 P--QR3
N(K I ) XB

17 B-R6 Q-K2

IQ . . . B XN

14 B-N5! B-B3

18 Q,R-K I

18 N-N5 Q.-K4

I I B XB Q.N-Q.2

15 B-R6 B-N2

19 Q.-N I

12 B-B4 N-K I

16 B-N5 B-B3

17 B XB

with a clear advantage to White, Gligoric

Matulovic, Palma 1967.

(b) 9 . . . Q,N-Q.2 is an old and rather passive line to which some
American players hae recently attempted to add new life. Averbach
Tolush, Training game 1953, continued 10 Q,-B2 P-Q,R 3 I I P--QR4
R-K I

12 B-KB4 Q-B2

13 N-Q.2 N-K4

14 P-R3 K N--Q2

15 B-K 3 P -B3

16 P-B4

with much the better game for White"The plan of 10 . . . P--QR3

md I I . , R-K I is unpromising and a later idea was to replace this with
N-K I and . . N-K4. For example 9 . . . Q.N--Q2
10 N-Q.2 ( 10 B-KB4
.

. . .

N-K I

I I P-KR3 P-Q.R 3

12 P-Q.R4 R-NI

13 N-Q.2 p-B4 ? !

14 p XP

is mi nimally favourable to White ;

Karaklaic-Boskovic, Belgrade 1966) 10 . . . N-K I I I N-B4 (or I I P
Q,R4 Q,-K2
12 R -K I N-B2
13 N-B4 P-N3 14 B-B4 N-K4, Reshevsky
Saidy, u s Championship 196 3-4) I I . . N-K4 12 N-K3 P-B4 13 P
B4 N-B2
14 P x P, Vranesic-Reshevsky, Amsterdam 1964. and i n no
line can White count on more than a slightly superior position.

Px P

15 N-B4 N-K4

16 Q.-Q,2

38

The Modern Bmo"i

Now we come to the most important lines : ( I ) 9

(2) 9
R-K I .

...

P-Q.I\3 and

. . .

( I)
10

. . .

P-QRg (from diagram 20)

P-Q.14

B-NS (see diagram 22)

10 . .
This line was formerly quite popular, but completely went out of
fashlOn when the attention was shifted to 9 . . . R-K I . Whether this fall
from favour was fully justified is by no means certain, since analysis
does not indicate Black's prospects to be significantly worse here than
in the other line.
A still older idea for Black is 1 0 . . . P -N3; for example the training
game Smyslov-Ragosin 1 9 53 continued II B-KB4 R-R2 1 2 N-Q.2 R-K 2
13 B-B3 N-K I 14 N-B4 Q.-B2 when instead of the simple 15 R-K I or
15 B-N3 maintaining a bind on the position, White continued 1 5 P-K5
17 N-Q. 5 N XB!
18 N XQ. R XN with curious
pXP 16 p-Q.6 N XP
complications. Also after 10 . . . P-N3, simply II N-Q.2 followed by N-B4
should give the advantage.
Finally, 10 . . . QN-Q2 led Black into difficulties in the game Simagin
Antoshin, Moscow Championship 19 55, after I I B-KB4 Q-K 2 12 N-Q.2
.

R-NI

( 1 2 . . . P-N3 . 13 R-K I

R-NI

14 P-R3 N-K I

15 B-N3 N-B2

16 N-B4

is also a little in White's favour, Soos-Pfleger, Lugano 196 8)

1 3 P-R3 N-K I 14 B-R2 N-B2 15 N-B4 N-K4 16 N-N6 N-RI with the
better prospects for White.
1 1 P-R3
This is the most natural and forcing continuation. Instead II D-KN5
led to a comfortable game for Black in Stahlberg-Spassky, Goteborg

The Main Line

1 955,

after

1 1 . . . Q.N-Q.2

12 Q-Q.2 B XN

13 B XB P-B5

39

14 B-'K2 Q.-B2

li5 K-R I N-B4 ( 15

KR-KI is possibly even better)
1 6 Q.-K 3 KR -K I
17 P-B3 N-N6 1 8 QR-Q.I QR-NI . Also I I B-KB4 does not have much
. .

sting for Black may simply play I I

B XN 1 2 B XB N-K I (or 12 . .. Q.
B2
13 R-B I Q.N-Q.2
14 P-Q.N4 with complications, Byrne-Reshevsky,
New York 1956) 13 Q.-N3 P-N3 14 N-Q.l N-Q.2 with a sound position,
Ivkov-Trifunovic, Sombor 1957. Another interesting example of this
line is the game Pachman-Kaplan, Puerto Rico 196 8, which went
I I B-KB4 Q.-K2
12 Q.-B2 ( 12 N-Q.2 seems stronger) Q.N-Q2
13 KR-K I
p-B5 ! 14 Q.R-Q.I ( 14. B XBP B X N 15 P X B N-K4 16 B-K2 N-R4 gives
. .

22
W

Black a dangerous attack) Q.R-BI, with equal chances. Yet another move
to have been tried here without significant success is 11 N-Q.2 ; Donner
Portisch, Budapest 1 96 1, continued 11 . . . B X B 12 QX B Q.N-Q.2 13 N
B4 N-N3 14 N-K 3 Q.-B2
15 P-R5 Q.N-Q.2
16 N-B4 P-Q.N4 with
equality.
Finally, for an example of 11 R-KI see the game O'Kelly-Damjanovic
at the end of this section.

1 1 ...
12 B x B
12 . . . R-K I
K N4 ? KN-Q.2

BxN
Q.N-Q.2
led to a fine position for Black after
15 Q.-B2 N-K4

16 B-K2 Q.N-Q.2

1 3 B-B4 Q.-B2

14 P

17 P-Q.N3 P-B5

in the

game Gligoric-Janosevic, Titovo Uzice 1966. Instead of 14 p-KN4 ?

either 14 Q.-B2 or 14 Q.-Q.2 would give good chances of advantage.
13 8-B4
13 B-N5 transposes into a position already discussed in Uhlinann's
variation with 7 B-NS . After 13 . .. P-R 3 14 B-B4 Q.-B2 15 R-KI
KR-K I
1 6 Q-B2 P-BS ! Black's position gives good prospects, GeUer
Tal, U S S R Championship 195 9.

40

The Mod"n Bmonj

I, . . .

N-KI

14 B-1U

Q.-h

1 3 . . . B2 is also possible. The game Najdorf-Reinhardt, Mar del

Plata 196 1 , then continued 14 R-K I- KIl-K I 15 B2 R-K2 1 6 P:-Q.N3
P-R3 1 7 2 K-R2 1 8 P:-Q.N4 N-K4 and Black's position is no worse.
1 4 . . . K2 is far too passive. A good example of the fate that may lie
in store is the game Pachman-Szabo, Mar del Plata 1962, in which
there followed IS Q:-Q.2 N-B2 1 6 KR-K I KR-N I 1 7 B-B I B I 1 8 K
R I P-N3 1 9 B-R2 R-N2 20 P-B4 P-B3 2 1 p-K5 ! BP X P 22 P X P N X KP
23 B X N B X B 24 R X B P X R 25 p:-Q.6 R:-Q.I (if 25 . . . N-K3 26
QS) 26 B-B4 ch K-R I 27 N-K4 N-K I 28 R-KB I N2 29 B-K6
P:-Q.N4 30 N5 R(N2):-Q.2 3 1 R-B 7 ! R X R 32 Q X R R-B I 33 P:-Q.7
N-B3 34 Q X N R X Q 35 p:-Q.8 = Q ch R-B I 36 Q5 p X P 3 7 QXBP
resigns.

15

R-BI

Now instead of 1 5 . . . QR-NI 1 6 P:-Q.N3 N(K I )-B3 1 7 B2 KR-KI

1 8 B-R2 when Black has little prospect of freeing his game, Black
should play 15 . . . P-B5 as suggested some years ago by Becker in his
notes to Smyslov-Filip, Vienna 1 95 7, where the weaker line was
played. Mter 15 . . . P-B5 White cannot play 1 6 P-QN3 p X P 1 7 N-N5 ?
( 1 7 Q X P N-B4 ) N I 18 N-B7 in view of 1 8 . . . P-N7 when Black
s hould win.
=

Illustrative Game
White : O'Kelly Black : Damjanovic Havana 1 968
I P:-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P:-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q5 P-KN3 4 N:-Q.B3 P-Q,3 5 P-K4
B-N2 6 N-B3 0--0 7 B-K2 P-K3 8 0--0 P X P 9 BP X P P-Q,R3 10 P
QR4 B-N5 I I R-K I B X N 1 2 B X B Q,N:-Q.2 1 3 B-K2 R-K I 14 P-B3
QR-B I IS P-R5 P-B5 1 6 B-K3 N-B4 1 7 R-R3 P-R4 18 N-R4 N(3)
Q,2 19 B X P N X P 20 B-KB I N(5)-B4 2 1 N-B3 R5 22 B-B2 Q:-Q.N5
23 R X R ch R X R 24 B2 B:-Q.5 25 R-R I N...!K4 26 B X B Q, X B ch
27 K-R I K-N2 28 P-R3 P-R5 29 R:-Q.I Q:-Q.N5 30 R-R I N(K4) -Q,2
3 1 B2 N-B3 32 N-R2 KB5 33 N-B3 N-R4 34 K-N I N-KN6 35 R
K I R X R 36 Q, X R Q:-Q.N5 37 B2 K-N I 38 N-R2 R5 39 P-N4
N:-Q.2 40 2 N-B3 41 B-'B4 K I 42 N-B3 K4 43 P-N5 p X P
44 B X P N(3)-R4 45 K-B2 N-B5 46 B:-Q.7 P-KN4 47 B-N5 K2
48 Q:-Q.4 Q:-Q.I 49 N4 B3 50 B4 K4 5 I B:-Q. 7 N-R8 ch
52 K-B I K6 53 N-K4 N-N6 ch 54 N x N P X N 55 Q,-B8 ch K-N2
56 B2 N:-Q.6 Whi te resigned.

The Main Line

(2)

. . .

41

R-K I (from diagram 20)

The attack on the king's pawn leaves White with but two moves from
which to choose: (a)

10 Q.-B2 and (b) 10 N-Q.2 . In recent times 10 N-Q.2

1 0 Q-B2 is also not without its

has been by far the more popular, but

merits

as

Korchnoi and Hort have demonstrated on a number of

occasions recently.

123
W

(i)

10

Q.-B2 N.R3

This, the most active reply, is the best way to solve Black's develop
ment problems. Instead

1 0 . . . B-N5 I I B-KB4 Bx N 1 2 B X B P-Q.R3

1 3 KR-K I ! ( ' 3 P-Q.R4 Q.-B2 1 4 p-R3 ? Q.N-Q.2
I S P-R5 N-K4 1 6 B-K2 KN-Q.2 1 7 B-Q.2 P-B5 gives Black more play
but is also not bad for White, Ree-Keene, Havana 1 966) Q.-B2 (if
1 3 . . . P-Q.N4 1 4 P-K5 Px P I S p-Q.6 ) 1 4 P-Q.R4 Q.N-Q.2 1 5 p-R5 !
with advantage to White, Pachman-Gasic, Sarajevo 1 966.
fails to equalise after

11 P-Q..R3
A very complex alternative is

1 1 B-KB4. The famous game Averbach

U S S R Championship 1 958, continued 1 1 . . . N-Q.N5 1 2 Q.-N I
N X KP ? ! 1 3 N X N B-B4 1 4 KN-Q.2 N X Q.P 1 5 B X P ? N-B3 ! and Black

Tal,

42

The MoJern Benoni

regained his piece with the better game. However , in the Soviet Year
book of Chess for 1 958-9, Cholmov published an analysis to demon
strate that Tal's sacrifice was incorrect. Instead of the faulty 1 5 B x p ?
he recommended 1 5 B-N3 ! He gave as the main line 1 5 . . . Q;-K2
B3! Q.RI
(a)

17

1 6 B

1 7 R-KI! and now :

.

R X Q. R X R

N-N5
21

18 B X P Q;-K3 (or 18 . . . R X B

RXB R-Q.2

22

1 9 N XR D X Q.

N(2) -B4 winning)

1 9 P-Q.R3

20
RXB

( 1 9 . . . N-B3

2 0 D XP RXN

2 1 N X R B X Q.

2 2 R X Q. R XR

2 3 R XB

is no better)

o P x N R X N

2 1 N X R B X Q.

22 R X Q. R X R

23 R x B

XP

24

BxP

and White should win.

(b) 1 7 . .. N-B2 ( I j . .. N-B3

1 8 Q;-B I and Black has

18 B-R4!)

insufficient compensation for the piece ; 1 8 . . . P-N3 is answered by

1 9 N X Q.P.
(c)
Q.R x B

1 7 ..
QXN
.

Q;-B2

1 8 B X P RX B

2 2 NXB N-N5

19 N X R B XQ.

20 N X R Q;-R4

21

2 3 N-K 8 wins.

The only game in which Cholmov's 15 B-N3 ! has been played is

Peterson-Chodos, semi-final US SR Championship 1964, when the view
that this refutes Black's sacrifice was substantiated. There followed
1 5 ... B-R3

16 B-N5 B X N (if 1 6 . . . R-K3

1 7 B-Q.3 N-N5

B-Q6

1 8 N-B6 ch)

20 KR-Q.I R XN

17 B-Q.B4, or if 16 . . . R-K2

1 7 B X R Q. x B

18 N x Q.P B X Q.

19 N x Q.

2 1 R X B and White eventually won.

After 1 1 B-KB4 NN5, however, it is not at all necessary for Black to

go in for this sacrificial line , for he may obtain a perfectly satisfactory
game by other means. For example
14 P X N (or 1 4 N X N N X N

12 Q;-NI Q-K2

1 5 P X N B-B4

whether White has enough for the pawn)

16 P X B N X Q.P

17 B-Q.N5 N X B

13 N-Q2 K N XQP !

1 6 Q-Q.I Q. X B and it is doubtful

14 . . . B-B4

15 Q.-Q.I B X N

18 B X R R X B with a good game for

Black ; Donner-Robatsch, Beverwijk 1 962. After 12 . . . Q;-K2 Euwe

suggests simply 13 R-K I (instead of 13 N-Q.2) when if 13 . . . N X KP
14 BN5. Another possibility is 13 P-Q.R3 N x KP
Q. X B

14 P x N N X N

15 P x N

1 6 R-K I Q.-N4 when again it is unclear whether White's play is

sufficient for the pawn.

Another interesting but little-explored idea for Black is I I B-KH4
NN5 1 2 Q;-Nl N- R4. For example 1 3 B-KN5 P-B3
1 5 P--Q R3 ! and now : (a) 15 . P x P
1 6 N-K N5? ! N-Q.6

1 4 B-K3 P-B4
1 7 B X KN P X B

with complications, Ree-Tringov, Titovo Uzice 1966. Tal suggested

that 1 6 P XN instead of N-KN5 would lead to chances for White after
1 6 . .. P X N

1 7 KB XP P XP

1 8 N-K4 ; (b)

( 1 6 B XQ.BP ! is a better try) N-R3

15 . . . P-KB 5

16 B-Q.2

17 R-K I P-KN4 with advantage for

Black, Andersen-PBeger, Copenhagen 1967.

A recent idea is 11 R-K I (diagram 2 5)

TItI Main LW

43

-5

Pachman-Soos, Titovo-Uzice 1 966, continued II . N-Q.N5 1 2 Q-N3

loses to 1 3 B-Q.N5 !) 13 P-Q.R3 N-R3 1 4 B-Q.N5
R-K2
1 5 P-R3 N-K l
16 B-KB4 P-B3 ' 7 B-B6 with advantage to
White. Also the game Korchnoi-Cordovil, Lugano 1 96 8, showed no
improvement in Black's fortunes : after I I
R-N l 1 2 B-KB4 N-R4
. .

-N3 ( 1 . .. NXKP ?

1 3 B-KN5 P-B 3

1 4 B-K 3 P-I14

1 5 p XP B X P

1 6 2 N-B2

1 7 B

KN5 B-B3 1 8 P-KR3 B XB

1 9 NXB Black was again in some difficulties.
A more vigorous and convincing solution to Black's problems was
demonstrated in Polugaievsky-Matulovic, Skopje 1 96 8, which went
1 3 B-K 3 R-Q.B I
14 Q.R-Q.l N-B4 and
B-N5 1 2 P-Q.R3 p-B 5!
II .
here the players agreed a draw.
More experience is needed with this line before it is possible to give
a completely valid assessment of its worth, though there seems no
reason for Black's chances to be in any way inferior to those in other
line5.
Finally, two other insipid continuations have been tried in the
position of diagram 24 :
(a) I I B-KN5 P-R3 (not I I
N-B2
1 2 N-Q.2 R-NI
13 P-Q.R4 ,
Flohr-Sokolsky, 2 1 st US S R Championship 1954) 12 B-R4 P-KN4
13 B-N3 N-Q.N5 14 Q.-N I N XKP 15 N XN B-B4 1 6 K N-Q.2 N XQ.P
1 7 B-B3 P-N5 18 B-K2 Q.-K 2 19 P-B3 N-K6! (analysis by Suetin)
with good chances for Black.
(b) II N-Q. 2 N-B 2 1 2 R-KI P-Q.R3 (less good is 12 . . . N-Q.2 1 3 N
B4 N-K4 1 4 N-K3 P-N3 1 5 P-B4 N(K4)-Q.2 1 6 B-B 3 , Hort-Bouaziz,
Sousse 1967) 13 P-Q.R4 R-NI 14 P-R5 B-Q.2 1 5 N-B4 B-N4 with a
level position, Stahlberg-Padevsky, ,Hava 1 964.
. .

. . .

11 . .
.

N-B=z

I I ' " B-N5 led

to advantage for White after 1 2 B-KB4 N-R4 1 3 B-KN5

15 P-R3 p XP
1 6 P XB P X N 1 7 B XP N-B 3
18 P-N5 in the game Hort-Nicevski, Skopje 1 96 8.

P-B3

14 B-Q.2 P-B4

44

The Modern Bnu:mi

12 R-KI
Alternatives give White few prospects of maintaining the initiative ;
for example :
(a) 1 2 R-Q I B-N5 1 3 B-KN5 P-KR3 1 4 B-R4 P-KN4 1 5 B-N3 N-R4
1 6 P-R3 N X B 1 7 P X N B-Q2 , Klasup-Tal, Riga 1 959;
(b) 12 N-Q2 P-QR3 13 P-QR4 R-N I 1 4 P-R5 B-Q2 1 5 N-B4 N-N4,
Vukovic-Matulovic, Yugoslav Championship 1 960 ;
(c) 1 2 B-KN5 P-KR3 1 3 B-KB4 P-QN4, Kots-Chodos, U S S R Cham
pionship 1 962 ; and Black has good play in all cases.

R-NI

12 . . .

Another possibility leading to difficult play is 1 2 . . . Q-K2. The game

Korchnoi-Bilek, Sousse 1 967, continued 1 3 B-KN5 P-KR3 1 4 ll-R4
P-KN4 1 5 B-N3 N-R4 1 6 QR-Q I N X B 1 7 RP X N P-N5 1 8 N-KR4 Q-N4
with complications.

13 B-B4

N-R4

Black's prospects are not worse. The game Ragosin-Scherbakov,

Moscow Championship 1 955, continued 1 4 B-KNS P-B3 I S B-R4
P-KN4 1 6 N-Q2 N-BS I 7 B-N3 N x B ch 1 8 N x N P-B4 and Black
held the initiative.
\Ve now come to one of the most important variations of all in the
Modern Benoni.

(ii) 9

. . .

R-KI

10

N-Q.2 (from diagram 20)

White's plan in this situation is to over-protect his king's pawn with

P-B3, then to play N-B4 and eventually to break through in the centre
with p-B4 and P-KS. The only replies to give Black much counterplay
are 1 0
N-R3 and 1 0
QN-Q2 . The first is analysed below, while
1 0 . . . QN-Q2 will be dealt with on page 8S. Other moves do not contest
' "

_ _ .

The Main Line 45

White's initiative ; for example : (i) 1 0
P-N3 1 1 P-B3 ( 1 1 P-B4 trans
poses into the four pawns attac of the King's Indian defence ; while
1 1 P-Q.R4 gives Black counterchances after 1 1 . . . B-Q.R3 1 2 B-Q.NS B X B
1 3 P X B Q.N-Q.2 14 Q;-B2 N-K4 I S P-B4 N (K4)-Q.2 1 6 N-B3 P-BS 1 7 R
R4 Q."":B2 I R-K I P-Q.R3 1 9 R x RP R x R 20 P X R P-Q.N4, Nezhmet
dinov-Polugaievsky, R S F S R 1 960) 1 1 . . . B-Q.R3 1 2 B >;IB N X B 1 3 N-B4
Q.-Q.2 (or 1 3 ' " N-B2 1 4 B-B4 B-B I I S P-Q.R4 N-R4 1 6 B-K3 R-N I
1 7 Q;-Q.2 , Garcia-Szabo, Tel Aviv 1 964) 14 P-Q.R4 N-B2 I S B-B4
B-B I 1 6 P-KN4 (also good is 1 6 B-NS N-R4 1 7 P-KN4 N-N2 1 8 P-KS,
R. Byrne-Evans, u s Championship 1 963-4) Q.R-Q. I 1 7 Q;-Q.2 P-Q.N4
1 8 P X P N X NP 1 9 N X N Q. X N 20 Q-Q.3 with clear advantage for White ;
. .

Donner-J anosevic, Venice 1 967.

(ii) 10 . . . P-Q.R3 is also insufficient for inequality. For example
1 1 P-Q.R4 (not 1 1 Q;-B2 P-Q.N4 1 2 P-Q.R4 P-NS 1 3 N-N I in view of 1 3 . . .
N x Q.p ! ) 1 1 . . . . P-N3. (Also of interest is the game Brinck-Claussen
Pietzsch, Lugano 1 968, which continued 1 1 . . . Q.N-Q.2 1 2 P-B3P-B4 also deserves consideration-Q.-B2 1 3 N-B4 N-N3 1 4 N-R3 B-Q.2 I S
Q;-N3 N x RP ! 1 6 N x N 'P-Q.N4 1 7 N-B3 P-NS with complications) and
now 1 2 p-B3 ! or 1 2 Q;-B2 ! leaves Black devoid of counterchances ; less
good is 1 2 P-B4 when after 1 2 . . . R-R2 1 3 B-B3 Q.R-K2 Black has good
counterplay, e.g. 1 4 N-B4 N X KP ! I S N X N R X N 1 6 B X R R X B 1 7
Q;-N3 (if 1 7 N-K3 B-Q.S) B-NS 1 8 B-Q.2 (or 1 8 B-K3 B-K7 1 9 Q;-B2 !,
Shianovsky-Artsukevitch, Leni?grad 1 9S3, and now 19 . . . R X N ! 20
Q. x B R-KS 2 I R-B3 Q;-B2 followed by . . P-BS and . . N-Q.2 -B4 is satis
factory for Black according to Suetin) 1 8 . . . B-K7 1 9 KR-B I N-Q.2 20
N X Q.P P-BS, Ragosin-Aratovsky, semi-final USSR Championship 1 9S I ;
or 14 R-R3 Q.-B2 I S K-R I Q.N-Q.2 1 6 R-N3 P-BS 1 7 R-N4 P-Q.N4 !,
Levit-Golovko, USSR 1 9S 3 ; or finally 1 4 R-K I P-Q.N4 I S P x P P x P
.

46,

The Modem Benoni

1 6 N X NP_ B-Q.R3, Ilivitsky-Shaposhnikov RSFSR 1 954. In all cases

Black has adequate chances.
N-R3
10 . . .
In this position White's choice lies essentially between attempting a
direct push in the centre with P-B4 and P-K5, or first stabilising the
central position with P-'B3 and leaving the pawn thrusts until he has
improved the placings of his pieces. At present the latter plan is far
more common, for it leads to a more durable advantage for vVhite than
the immediate break-through attempts, though in both lines Black
should, with accurate play, secure equality.

We shall examine first the earlier plans with (a) I I R-K I and
(b) I I P-B4 ; then the more fashionable (c) I I p-B3 !
Besides these, other moves have been tried, but none with any
measure of success. The antipositional I I B-B3 ? gave White nothing
in the game Albareda-J. Littlewood, Lucerne 1 963, which continued
II
R-N I 1 2 P-Q.R4 N-Q.2 1 3 N-B4 N-K4 14 N X N B X N 1 5 B-K3
N-N5 with good play for Black. Even weaker is I I B X N as was played
in the game Kraidman-Kanko, Students' Olympiad 1 955, when after
P X B 1 2 P-B3 B-Q.2 1 3 P-Q.R4 R-N I 1 4 N-B4 N-R4 1 5 P-KN4
II
B-Q.5 ch 1 6 K-N2 R-N5 1 7 Q;-Q.3 Q.-R5 Black had a tremendous
attack.
I I R-N I is another ineffective idea as was shown in Gligoric-Tal,
Candidates 1 959, in which there followed I I
B-Q.2 1 2 R-K I ( 1 2 P
Q.R3 ? R-N I I j P-Q,N4 P X P 1 4 p X P R-QB I 1 5 Q.-N3 ? R x N I 1 6 Q. X R
N X KP 1 7 Q.-B2 N-B6 1 8 B-Q.3 B-R5 won quickly for Black i n the
correspondence game Hofmann-Behnke 1 955) R-N I ! 3 P-Q.N3 P-Q.N4
1 4 B-N2 N-B2 1 5 Q.-B2 Q.-K2 1 6 N-Q.I B-R3 ! I 7 P-B3 N-R4 18 N
B I N X Q.P ! 1 9 P X N B-B4 20 Q.-B3 B-N2 2 1 Q.-B I B X R 22 B X B
K X B 23 Q.X B N-B5 with a very strong position for Black._
Finally, another move to have failed against Tal is I I K-R I as played
.

. .

The Main Line

47

by Ufimtsev in the Spartak;;.de 1 96 7 ; the game continued : I I . . . N-B2

1 2 P--Q.R4 R-NI 1 3 P-B4 P-Q,R3 1 4 P -R5 B-Q,2 1 5 B-B3 N-N4
1 6 p-K5 ! ? p X P 1 7 p X P R X P 1 8 N-B4 R-B4 1 9 N-K3 R-B5 20 N
K2 R-KR5 2 I P-KN3 R-K5 22 B X R N X B 23 N-KII4 N-Q,5 24 K-N2
Q;-K2 25 R-K I P-KR4 26 R-R3 R-K I 2 7 N-K B-R6 ch ! 28 K x B
N-N4 ch ! resigns.
We now come to the more common lines :

(a) I I R-Kr (from diagram 28)

This is an old move which bears too little relevance to the mam
problems of the position to cause Black much difficulty.
29

El . . .

N-B2

Other possibilities are : (i) I I . . . B-Q,2 1 2 B-B I N-KN5 1 3 N-B3 N-K4

1 4 B-KB4 B-N5 1 5 Q,B X N B X B 1 6 B X N P X B 1 7 P-KR3 B X N 1 8
Q, X B R-N I 1 9 P--Q.N3, Bisguier-Sherwin, u s Championship 1 960; or
(ii) I I . . . R-N I 12 P-KR3 B--Q.2 1 3 B-B I P-Q,N4 14 P-Q,R4 N-B2
1 5 P X P N X NP 16 B X N B X B 1 7 R X P B-Q,6 1 8 N-B3, Cholmov
Perez, Havana 1 965, but in both of these White has the better game.

12 P-Q.14
1 2 Q;-B2 R-N I

1 3 P--Q.R4 is the alternative, but this too leaves Black

with several reasonable continuations. For example, 1 3 . . . P-Q,R3

14 P-R5 B--Q.2 1 5 N-B4 N-N4, Klasup-Lein, Vilna 1 955 ; or 1 3 . . . P-N3

14 N-N5 P--Q.R3 1 5 N X N Q, X N 1 6 R-R2 Q;-K2 1 7 P-B3 N-R4 1 8 N
B I P-B4, Birbrager-Tal, U S S R 1 953 ; or finally 1 3 . . . N-R3 14 B X N
P X B 1 5 N-B4 R-N5 1 6 N-R2 N X Q,P 1 7 B--Q.2 R X N, Vranesic-Stein,
Tel Aviv I g64 ; all these lines give Black interesting possibilities of
counterplay.

12 . . .

P-NS

1 2 . . , P--Q.R3 is a good alternative. Andersen-Matulovic, Havana 1 966,

48

The Modern Benoni

then continued 1 3 P-B4 R-N I 1 4 P-R5 B-Q,2 1 5 B-B3 B-N4

B X N 1 7 R X B N-Q.2 1 8 P-KN3 P-Q.N4 19 p X P e.p. R X NP
NI with active play for Black.

1 6 N-B I
20 B2

13 Q;-B2
Or 1 3 P-R3 R-N I 14 B-Q,3 P-Q,R3 1 5 N-B4 P-Q.N4 1 6 p X P p X P
1 7 N-R5 B-Q,2 1 8 B-KB4 P-N5 1 9 N-Q, I B2 20 N-B4 N-N4,
'
Lilienthal-Lyavdansky, U S S R 1 964, when Black's position was quite
solid.

30
B

N-R3
In the famous game Gurgenidze-Tal, U S S R Championship 1 957, Black
played instead 1 3 . . , N-N5 and won brilliantly after 14 p-R3 ? N x p !
1 5 K X N Q;-R5 ch 1 6 K-B I B-Q.5 1 7 N-Q, I Q, X RP ! 1 8 B-B3 Q;-R7
1 9 N-K3 p-B4 ! 20 N (Q,2)-B4 P X P 2 1 B X P B-R3 22 B-B3 R-K4
23 R-R3 Q,R-K I 24 B-Q,2 N X P ! 25 B X N ch R X B 26 K-K2 B X N
27 R X B B X N ch 28 Resigns.
However if after 1 3 . . . N-N5, White plays 14 B X N ! B X B 1 5 N-B4
he should obtain slightly better prospects since the threat of 1 6 B-B4
is a little awkward for Black to meet.
13 . . .

14 NS

N-Q.NS

Black's position is now very satisfactory. The game Lokvenc-Tal,

Miskolc 1 963, continued 1 5 Q;-Q, I B-Q.2 16 N-B4 N-N5 1 7 B-B4
B-Q.5 and Black gained the initiative.

(b)

II

P-B4 (from diagram 28)

This move transposes into a four pawns attack type of King's Indian
defence position, from which line it may indeed also arrive, for example
by the move order I P-Q,4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-KN3 3 N-Q.B3 B-N2
4 P-K4 P-Q.3 5 P-B4 0-0 6 N-B3 P-B4 7 P-Q.5 P-K3 8 B-K2 P X P
9 BPX P Il-K I 1 0 N-Q.2 N-1l3 1 1 0-0. In this line, however, as in

The MtJin Line

49

many

of the four pawns attack variants White's centre lacks the

necessary support of his pieces to cause Black much concern.

31
B

N-B2
Probably the soundest reply, though Black has some alternatives
worthy of mention :
( I ) I I . . . B-Q.2 1 2 B-B3 (C-B2 1 3 N-B4 P-Q.N4 14 N X Q.P Q. X N
1 5 P-K5 Q.-N3 1 6 P X N B X P 1 7 K-R I Q.R-Q. I 1 8 P-Q.R4 N-N5 is
very complicated, Westerinen-Tringov, Tel Aviv 1 964.
(ii) I I . . . R-N I 1 2 R-K I ( 1 2 B-B3 is also possible, for example
1 2 . . . N-Q.N5 ! 1 3 B-K2 p-B5 ? ! 1 4 (c-R4 P-Q.R4 1 5 B X P N-N5
1 6 P-:KR3 N-K6 with complications, Zaitsev-Suetin, 30th U S S R Cham
pionship 1 962 ; if after 1 2 B-B3 Black plays 1 2 . . . P-Q.N4, then White
gains the advantage with 1 3 P-Q.R4 p X P 1 4 N-B4 R-N5 1 5 R X P as
in the game Pantaleev-Prahov, Bulgarian Championship 1 960.
Another very obscure possibility is I I . . . R-N I 12 P-KR3 P-B5 1 3 B X P
P-Q.N4 14 B-Q.3 N-B4 1 5 B X P R X B 1 6 N X R (C-N3 I 7 P-Q.R4 N-N6
ch as in A. Zaitsev-Altschuler, 6th U S S R Correspondence Champion
ship) 1 2 . . . N-B2 ( 1 2 . . . P-B5 is too sharp ; the game Portisch-Dely,
Hungarian Championship 1 955, continued 1 3 B-B3 N-B4 14 N X P
P-Q.N4 1 5 N X Q.p ! Q. x N 1 6 P-K5 (C-K2 1 7 P-Q.6 (C-K3 1 8 B-K3
with great advantage to White) 1 3 P-Q.R4 P-N3 ( 1 3 . . . P-KR4 was
played in Lilienthal-Scherbakov, Moscow 1 955, but after 14 P-R3
N-Q.2 1 5 B-Q.3 B-Q.5 ch 1 6 K-R2 P-R3 1 7 N-B3 White had a
minimal advantage) 14 R-N I P-Q.R3 1 5 (C-B2 P-Q.N4 and Black had
reasonable prospects, Zaitsev-Vitolinsh, U S S R 1 963 ;
(iii) I I . . . P-N3 1 2 B-B3 N-B2 ; and
(iv) I I . . . N-Q.2 1 2 B-B3 N-B2 both transpose into variations cor!sidered below.
12 B-B3
If 1 2 P-Q.R4 Black should simply continue 1 2 . . . P-N3 ( 1 2 . . . R-N I is
11

50

TIte Modern Bmoni

also good) 1 3 B-B3 R-N I . For instance, 14 R-K I B-Q.R3 (or 14 . . . p

ItR4 15 P-R3 B-Q.R3 1 6 B-K2 B X B 17 R X B P-RS 18 N-B3 N-R4
1 9 P-KS, MOller-Czerniak, Vienna I 9S I , with an unclear situation)
I S N (Q.2)-N I ! N-Q.2 1 6 N-R3 P-BS ! (weaker is 1 6
P-B4 as in
Udovcic-Minic, ' Bled 1963, when either 1 7 p X P or 1 7 P-KS ! gives
advantage to White) ' 17 N (B3)-NS B X N 1 8 P X B p-B6 19 R-N I P X P
20 B X P B X B 2 I R X B Q-B3 22 R-Q.B2 N-B4 with a slightly preferable
position for Black, Malich-Tringov, Sarajevo I 96S.
. .

12 . . .

R-NI

1 2 . . . P-N3 is a sound alternative transposing into the previous note

after 13 P-Q.R3 ( 1 3 N:"'B4 B-Q.R3 14 Q-N3 P-Q.N4 I S N X Q.P ? is not
possible because after I S . . . Q. X N 1 6 P-KS Q;-N3 Black threatens . . P
BS ch). Another solid line is 1 2 . . . N-Q.2 13 P-Q.R4 R-N I 1 4 N-B4
N-N3 I S N-RS P-B4 1 6 p X P B X P 1 7 B-Q.2 Q;-B3, Steinmeyer
Evans, u s Championship 1 963-4, and Black has good prospects.
.

P-Q.N4
B-Q.2
PxP

13 N-B4
14 N-RS
IS P-KS

In the game Polugaievsky-Evans, Havana

1966, Black continued

I S . . ' KN X P ? 16 N X N N X N 17 Q. X N Q. X N 18 Q. x Q.P
19 Q.x p with great advantage to White.

weakly with

B -B4

16 P x P
17 B-8t

Not

17

. .

18 B-N3

R xP
R-8tl

R-K I ? when 18 N-B6 is good for White.

P-NS

Black now has a clear advantage as was seen in the games Zinser
Evans, Venice

1 967, and Soos-Matulovic, Skopje 1 967. The first of

19 N-R4 KN X P 20 N X P B-N4 ! 2 1 R-K I B X P 22 R
23 N (BS)-N7 Q-B3 24 N-Q.6 B X R 2S N X B B X B 26 B X N

these finished :

NI B-B6
Q. X N 27 Resigns. In the other game Soos managed to improve, but

TIle Main Litu

51

only to the extent of three moves : 1 9 N-B6 B X N 20 P XB P XN 2 1

X Il X Q. 2 2 B X N Il-QBI 23 B-Q1l5 P X P 24 R-QI N-Itl 25 Il
8 B-Q5 ch 26 It-RI R X R 27 B XR P-B5 28 R X Q.I R XB ! 29 P X R
p-B6 30 Resigns.
IllustrativI Gamu

White : RubIDetd Black: Oarda Buenos Aires 1964

I P-Q4 N-KB3 2 P-QB4 P-S4 3 P-QS P-K3 4 N-QB3 P x P S P x P
P-Q3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 N-B3 ()-Q 9 0--0 R-ItI 1 0 N12.2 N-R3 I I P-B4 R-N I 1 2 P-QR4 ? N-QNS 13 B-B3 P-N3 14 N-B4
B-QR3 I S Q-N3 R-N2 1 6 P-N3 R-K2 1 7 -Q2 N X ltP ! 1 8 N X N
R X N 19 B X R R X B 20 Q.R-B I B-Q5 ch 2 1 It-RI B-QN2 2 2 B-B3
B X P 23 B X B R-K6 ch 24 Resigns.
White : Forbato. Black: K1u.ger Hungarian Championship I 96S
First ten moves as above; I I P-B4 N-B2 1 2 P-QR4 N-R3 ? ! 1 3 B-B3
P-R4 14 N-B4 N-KNS 1 5 P-KN3 B-QS ch 16 K-N2 P-B4 1 7 P-R3
B X N 1 8 P X B p X P 19 B X N P X B 20 P X P Q-B3 2 1 B-Q2 B-Q2
22 R-R I N-B2 23 N-K3 P-QN4 24 R-R6 K-N2 2S P-NS Q-B2 26 P
B4 P-NS 27 B-B I R-KN I 28 R-R7 ch! resi.

(c)

II

P-B3 ! (from diagram 28)

With this move, originally a recommendation of Gligoric, White safe

guards his centre and threatens to develop his initiative by playing N-B4
followed by P-QR4 and eventually B-KB4 or P-KB4 driving Black into
a passive position. The best defence to this plan consists in playing an
early . . . N-Q2, to answer N-B4 with . . . N-Y4 threatening to eliminate
the menacing knight. How this works out in practice will be seen from
the examples below.
33

11 ...

N-lkI

52

The Modern Bnumi

This is the most natural reply, preventing N-B4 in view of . . . P-Q.N4.

Shaposhnikov and Yudovitch, in an article in Shakhmatny Bulletin
in 1 95 8, recommended instead the immediate I I . . . N-Q.2, and this
was played a few times without ever gaining real popularity. After
I I . . N-Q.2
1 2 N-B4 { 1 2 N-NS gave no advantage in the game
Birbrager-Tal, Spartakiade 1 966, after 1 2 . . . N-N3 1 3 P-Q.R4 ICK2
._

1 4 N-B4 N XN

15

B XN N-N I !

1 6 B-B4

R-Q.I

17

(C-Q,2 P-Q. R3

1 8 N-R3 N-Q.2

with equality ; while against other- 1 2th moves Black

may play 1 2 . . . N-B2 transposing into the satisfactory variations below)
1 2 . . . N-K4 1 3 N-K3! gives White the advantage ; compare this with
the main line where Black is more prepared to deal with 'Vhite's
threat of P-B4. Instead of 1 3 N-K3! White continued less forcefully in
the game Bertok-Tal, Bled 1 96 1 , where there followed 1 3 B-B4 ? N XN
1 4 II XN N-B2 1 5 (C-Q,? P-Q.R3 and Black had the preferable position.
Other moves have also been tried in diagram 33 ; for example :
I I . . . R-NI
1 2 R-KI (or 1 2 K-RI N -B2
1 3 P-Q.R4 P-Q. R3 1 4 P-RS
B-Q.2
1 5 N-B4 B-N4 1 6 B-B4, Wexler-Forintos, Tel Aviv 1 964)
1 2 . . . N-B2

1 3 P-Q.R4 P-R3

14 P-RS B-Q.2

1 5 N-B4 B-N4

1 6 B-NS,

Garcia-Scheweber, Tel Aviv 1 964, and in both cases White's position

is slightly preferable.
Finally, I I . . . B-Q.2 turned out very well in the game Smirnov
Nebolsin, RSF SR 1 965, when after 1 2 _P-Q.R4 N-R4 1 3 N-B4 P-B4
1 4 B-Q 3 B-Q.S ch 1 5 B-K3 N-B5 16 B XB P XB 1 7 N-K2 N XB 1 8
Q X N N-B4 Black had a fine position. Instead of the faulty 1 4 B-Q 3,
1 4 p-B4! should have beerl played, when Black will find it difficult to
justify his play.
la

P-Q.14
54

Now Black must prepare to meet N-B4. Hi s choice lies between

(i) 1 2 . .. P-N3 (with the idea of . B-Q.R3 to exchange the knight at
Whi te s QB4) ; and (ii) 1 2 . . . N-Q.2 (followed by
N-K4) .
.

'

. . .

The Main Line

(I) 12

. . .

53

P-N3

This is the older of the two moves, which has recently come back into
fashion. Possibly, though, this is more due to a dissatisfaction with the
other line than any positive aspects.

13 K-R1
Also dangerous for Black is the immediate 1 3 N-B4, though against
this he should, with accurate play, achieve active chances. For example
1 3 N-B4 B-Q.R3 14 B-N5 (not 14 B-B4 when Black frees his game with
14
N-R4 1 5 B-K3 P-B4 1 6 N-Q.2 P-B5, Kchouk-Forintos, Havana
1 966) p-R3 ! (neither 14
B X N 1 5 B X B P-Q.R3 1 6 K-R I R-N I
1 7 Q;-K2 !, Petrosian-Schmid, Zurich 1 96 I ; nor 14 . . . Q.-Q.2 1 5 Q;- Q.2
B X N 1 6 B X B P-Q.R3 1 7 Q.-Q.3, Birbrager-Tal, 'U S S R Teams Cham
pionship 1 955, gives Black any freedom) . 1 5 B-R4 Q.-Q.2 {6 P-KN4 ?
Q.R-N I i 7 B-N3 B X N 18 B X B P-R3, Horowitz-Evans, us Champion
ship 1 968. By delaying
B X N until his preparation for . . , P-Q.N4 are
complete, Black has secured good counterplay. See illustrative games
at the end of this section for the remainder of this game.
A recent attempt to improve this variation for White is the move
14 R-N I (after 1 3 N-B4 B-Q.R3) to prepare P-Q.N4 himself; but it seems
that here also Black has sufficient counterplay. For example 1 3 N-B4
B-Q.R3 14 R-N I B X N 1 5 B X B N-Q.2 1 6 B-Q.2 (or 1 6 N-N5 N-K4
1 7 N X N Q.X N 1 8 B-Q.N5 N-Q.2 1 9 B-Q.2 P-Q.R3 with chances for both
sides, Gligoric-Lobigas, Manila 1 968) P-Q.R3 1 7 P-Q.N4 P x P 1 8
R X P Q.-K2 1 9 K-R I KR-Q.B I 2 0 Q.-K2 P-Q.N4 2 1 P X P B X N with
complications, Adamski-Matulovic, Lugano 1 968.
The text move is almost a waiting move, hoping that Black's reply
will enable White to extract more from the position than he can achieve
with the immediate 1 3 N-B4. Since White intends to open the centre
eventually, K-R I is a useful precaution tn any case.
. .

' "

35
B

54

The Modern Benoni

R-NI

13 . . .

13
N-Q.2 was played in the game Najdorf-Fischer, Havana 1 966,
but after 14 N-H4 N-K4 1 5 N-K3 P-B4 1 6 P-B4 N-B2 1 7 P x P P x P
1 8 B-Q.3 Q;-B3 1 9 N-K2 NKR3 20 N-N3 Q;-N3 2 I Q;-B2 R-B I 22 B-Q.2
B-Q.2 Gligoric's suggestion of 23 R-B3 ! leaves Black in some difficulties.
13
B-Q.R3 ? 1 4 B X B N X B 1 5 N-B4 is very bad for Black.

14 N-B4

B-Q.R3

The game Gligoric-Matulovic, Sousse 1 967, continued 1 5 BN5 P-R3

1 6 B-R4 Q;-Q.2 1 7 Q;-Q.2 B X N ( 1 7
P-KN4 ? ! deserves consideration)
1 8 B X B P-R3 19 B-Q.3 P-Q.N4 20 P X P P X P 2 1 R-R7 and Black is
under some pressure though his queen's side pawns should provide
sufficient counterplay. It is too dangerous for White to play for the
win of a pawn in this line with 1 9 B X N B X B 20 Q. x p for after 20
P
Q.N4 followed by . . . P-N5 Black's counterplay on the queen's side is
very strong indeed.

(ii) 12 ... N-Q.2 (from diagram 34)

13 N-B4
Interesting is 1 3 P-B4 N-B3 when at the cost of one move Black has
transposed into a line good for him. It seems that his resources are still
sufficient ; for example Furman-Tal, U S S R Championship 1 9S9, con
tinued 14 B-B3 P-N3 I S N-B4 B-Q.R3 1 6 Q;-Q.3 ( 1 6 Q;-N3 B X N I 7
Q..X B R-NI 1 8 N-NS N X N 1 9 P X N N X KP ! 20 B X N B-Q.S ch led to a
good game for Black in Zheliandinov-Adamski, Havana. 1 967) R-N I
(also possible is 1 6
B X N transposing to the previous note) 1 7 R-N I
P-Q.N4 1 8 P X P N X NP 1 9 N X N B X N 20 B Q.2 ? N X KP ! winning a
pawn. After 1 3 P-B4 it is dangerous to play 1 3 ' " R-Nl f4 K-R I Q;-K2
in view of I S P-KS P X P 1 6 N (Q.2)-K4 with a strong attack, Mititelu
Reicher, Roumanian Championship 1 964.
. .

13
N-Kf
14 N-K31 ( diagram 36)
P-B4
14
see

This is the most active reply leading to very sharp play. The alternatives
are very passive :
(a) 14 ' " P-B3 was played in the third game of the Uhlmann
Portisch match, Budapest 1 962, and after I S B- Q.2 R-N I 1 6 R-N I
B-Q.2 1 7 1'-Q.N4 P x P 1 8 R x P N-R3 1 9 R-N I N-B4 20 Q.-B2 Q.-K2
2 I Q;-R2 N-B2 Black secured a good position. Portisch rcommended
that instead of Uhlmann's plan of queen's side play, better was I S P-B4
N-B2 followed by a later P-BS and P x P for White when Black's king's
'
side may prove difficult to defend.

The Main Line

55

36
W

(b) 1 4 . . . P-N3 1 5 R-K I R-NI : 6 P-B4 N-Q.2 1 7 N-B4 N-B3

1 8 B-B3 B--Q.R3 19 N-R3 N-Q.2 20 N (R3)-N5 - B X N 2 1 P X B R-R I
22 P-K5 -with clear advantage to White, Kraidman-Fischer, Natanya
1 968
N-B2
15 P-B4
PxP
16 P x P
Now i t is known that Black should play 1 6 . . N-KR3 ! for which
reason White should avoid this position with 1 3 K-R I ! See the notes to
Gligoric-Minic page 87 for details. After the text the game Bukic
Tal, Budva 1 967, continued 1 7 B-Q.3 Q.-B3 1 8 R-B3 ' B-Q.2 ( 1 8
N-R I
1 9 Q;-B2 R-B I is an interesting suggestion of Petrosian's, which he
assesses as unclear) 19 i-B2 N-KR3 20 B-Q.2 R-K2 2 1 Q.N-Q.I ! N-K I
22 R-N3 Q.-Q.5 2 3 N-B2 ! K-RI 24 B-B3 Q. x BP 25 N-R3 Q.-RS 26 R-KB I
B-Q.S 2 7 R-B4 Q.-B3 28 B X B P X B 29 N X P N X N 30 B X N R-B I 3 1
Q.x R ! B X Q 32 B X B R-K8 c h 33 K-B2 Q;-K2 34 B-K6 R x B 35 P x R
N-B3 36 R (N3)-KB3 N-N I 37 R-B7 Q.-R5 ch 38 R-N3 p--Q.6 39 R-B8
Q;-Q.5 ch 40 K-B I resigns.
.

. .

Illustrative Games
White : Horowitz Black : Evans u s Championship 1 968
I P--Q.4 N-KB3 2 P--Q.B4 P-B4 3 P--Q.5 P-K3 4 N--Q.B3 P x P 5 P x P P--Q.3
6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-K2 0-0 9 0-0 R-K I 1 0 N-Q.2
N-R3 I I P-B3 N-B2 1 2 P-Q.R4 P-N3 1 3 N-B4 B--Q.R3 14 B-N5 P-R3
I 5 B-R4 Q;-Q.2 1 6 p-KN4 Q.R-N I 1 7 B-N3 B X N I 8 B X B P-R3 I 9 RK I P-Q.N4 20 P x P P x P 2 I B-B I P-N5 22 N-K2 P-R4 23 P-R3
P X P 24 RP X P N-N4 25 K-N2 R-R I 26 Q;-B2 N-KR2 2 7 Q;-Q.2 Q;-K2
'
28 Q;-Q.3 N--Q.5 29 R X R R X R 30 N X N B X N 3 1 R-K2 P-N4 32 Q;-N5
B-K4 33 Q;-B6 R-R8 34 Q;-B8 ch N-B I 35 B X B Q. X B 36 Q;-B5 N-N3
37 Q. X Q. N X Q. 38 R-;-KB2 P-B5 39 K-N3 R-R 7 40 R-K2 p-N6 4 1
Resigns.

56

The Modern Bmoni

White : Petrosiaa Black : Schmld Zurich 1 96 1

First 1 3 ,moves as above : 1 4 B-N5 B X N 1 5 B X B P-QR3
1 7 Q-K2 Q-B I 1 8 B-B4 B-B I 1 9 QR-N I ! N-R4 ( 1 9
P X P P X P 2 1 N X P N(B2) X P loses a pawn to 22 B X P)
2 I P-KN4 N-B3 22 NP x P P x P 23 R-NI ch K-R I
25 QR-N I R-KN2 26 P-K5 P X P 2 7 Q X P N(B2)-KI
29 R X B ! K X R 3 0 Q-K7 ch K-N3 3 1 p-Q.6 ! resigns.

1 6 K-R I R-N I
. . . P-Q.N4 20
20 B-Q2 p-B4 ?
24 R-N3 R-K2
28 R X R B X R

E . The Pawn Storm Variation

From diagram I : 6 P-14 P-KN3

P-Ilf
:n
B

This is the most direct refutation attempt of the Modern Benoni.

White prepares at once to set his central pawn roller in motion.
Attempts by Black to halt the advance are doomed to failure : for
example the game Shamkovitch-Zheliandinov, RSFSR Championship
1 959, continued 7 . . . Q-K2 ? 8 N-B3 ! QN-Q2 ? (8
N X KP 9 N X N
ch
1
0
K-B2
leaves
Black
in
dire
straits
in
view
of
the
open king's
Q. X N
file, but better was 8 . . . B-N2 followed by 0-0 though he is still strug
gling.) 9 P-K5 p X P 1 0 p X P N X KP I I B-N5 ch N-Q.2 dis. ch. 1 2 K
B2 ! N-N5 ch 1 3 K-N3 ! and Black is quite lost.
Thus Black usually continues 7 . . . B-N2 when White may play
8 N-B3 0-0 transposing into the King's Indian, four pawns attack, or
continue more ambitiously with either (i) 8 P-K5 or (ii) 8 B-N5 ch.

(i) Mikenas's line 7

" .

N2

P-KS

This variation has been extensively analysed and played by the

TIte PIllIm Storm VlJrialitm

57

Lithuanian master Mikenas. White's strategy, expressed naively, is

to push his pawns as far as they will go, and then to take advantage
of the resulting denuded position of the black king caused by his pieces

fleeing from the onrush of pawns. As may be expected this leads to

extremely double-edged play. The chances are approximately even.

If anything, theory favours Black, while practice shows White to

be

more sllccessful.

sa

Black's only two sane moves are (a) 8 ' "

p X P (very risky) and (b)

8 . . . KN-Q.2 ( !) .

(a) 8

...

Px P

KN-Q.2
9 . . . N-N5 ? 1 0 p-K6 or 1 0 B-N5 ch is overwhelming for White;
Also weak is 9 . . . N-R4, the game Yakovlev-Voloshin, Molotov 1 956,
continued 10 B-N5 ch B-Q.2 I I N-B3 0-0 1 2 o-o ! ( 1 2 B X B N X B
9PxP
If

1 3 P-KN4 N X P is by no means clearly good for White)

1 3 B-K2 B X N
P x Q.

14 B X B B X P

1 5 B X N Q;-R5

1 7 Q. x Q.

1 8 R-B5 with great advantage for White. Finally, if 9 . . . Q;-K2

Mikenas gives the variation : 1 0 N-B3 0-0

BXB

1 2 . . . B-N5

1 6 P-KN3 Q. X B

1 3 p-Q.6 Q.-K3

14 Q.-Q.5 ! B X P

I I B-KN5 P-KR3

1 5 N X B R-K I

16

12 B XN

0--0--0

Q. X N

1 7 B-B4 ! with advantage.

10 P-K6
PxP
1 1 P X P (see diagram 39)
11
Q.-RS ch

Other moves are even less satisfactory ; Mikenas gives the following
possi hili ties :
(i) I I . . . N-K4
(ii) 1 1 . . . N-KB3
1 5 B-N5 ch K-K2

1 2 Q. x Q. ch K X Q.

1 3 B-N5 ch, etc.

1 2 B-Q.B4 Q. x Q. ch
1 6 R-K I .

1 3 K X Q. N-B3

1 4 N-B3 N-Q.R4

58

T1u Modem Benoni

(ill) I I . . . N-B I 1 2 N-N5 ! Q.x Q. ch 13 K X Q. N X P 14 B--Q.B4 N-R3

1 5 KN-B3; and in all cases Black is in severe difficulties.
Also I I . . . lCK2 1 2 B-K2 N-KB3 1 3 B-KB4 B X P 1 4 B--Q.6 !CQ. I
1 5 lCR4 ch KN--Q.2 16 R--Q.I , Kampenus-Kirillov, Riga 1967 ; and
I I . . . B X N ch 1 2 P X B lCK2 13 B-K2 N-K4 1 4 lCR4 ch Q.N-B3
1 5 B-KR6 B X P 16 0--0-0 B--Q.2 1 7 KN4, Mileika-Zhuravlev, Riga
1 962, both leave much to be desired in the Black situation.

39
B

12 P-N3
13 P x B

B xN ch
Q.-KS ch

1 3 . . . K2 ? rapidly led to a winning position for White in the game

Peterson-Shershniev, Latvia 1964, in which there followed 14 N-B3
Q.X P ch 1 5 B-K2 0-0 16 0-0 N-N3 1 7 B-KR6 R-K I 18 N-N5 K6
ch 19 K-RI B-K3 20 N X P and Black was lost.

14 Q.-IU

Q.x Q.ch

14 . . . Q.XR ? (if 14 . . . N-KB3 15 B-KN2 is very strong) loses by force

to 1 5 P X N db!. ch K X P 1 6 B-R3 ch.

15 B x Q.

1 5 N X Q. also makes matters difficult for Black, e.g. 1 5 . . . N-B I 1 6 B

KN2 N-B3 1 7 R--Q.NI N X P 18 0-0 Q.N--Q. I 1 9 N-B4 R-BI 20 R-KI ,
Zelevinski-Liberson, Moscow 1 957.

15 . . .
16 N-B3

N-BI
NxP

Black's position is extremely precarious despite his extra pawn.

Mikenas-Polugaievsky, semi-final 23rd U S S R Championship 1 957,
continued 1 7 0-0 ( 1 7 B-KR6 is also very strong) 0-0 18 B-KR6 R-KI
19 N-K5 N--Q.2 20 :1--Q.N5 with advantage to White.

(b) 8 . . . KN-Q2 ( !) (from diagram 38)

This is Black's best defence to Mikenas's 8 P-K5. Black prevents the

The Pawn Storm Variation

complete opening of the centre which proved

so

59

dangerous in the line

above.

fO
W

9 N-NSI
9 P

xi>

is not dangerous for Black ; for example the game Mikenas

Scherbakov, Moscow 1 96 1 , continued

...

1 0 N-B3 N-KB3

0-0

1 1 N-K5 (or I l B-K2 N-K I with easy equality) Q.N-Q.2

1 3 P X N N-Q.2
1 7 P X B Q.-K5

14 p-K6 p X P

1 5 p X P Q-R5 ch

1 2 B-K2 N X N !

1 6 P-N3 B X N ch

1 8 R-KN I Q. x KP with advantage to Black.

9 N-K4 ( !) is essentially the same as the text move, since it transposes

after 9 . . . P X P

1 0 N-Q.6 ch.

9 ...
1 0 N-Q.6 ch

K-IU

PxP

1 0 . . . K-B I ? leaves White with a very strong attack after I I N-B3 ;

for example 1 I
B-N5

, Px P

1 5 Q.-N3 KN-'-Q.2

1 963 ; or I I . . . P-B3
1 5 B-KB4 P X N

1 2 B X P N-KB3

1 3 B-B4 Q;-K2 ch

14 N-K5 !

16 0-0 ; Mohring-Juttler, Correspondence

1 2 N X B Q. X N

1 6 B-K3 P-N3

1 3 P X P ,N X P

1 7 B-Q.B4 P-KR3

14 N X N Q;-K I

1 8 p-Q.6 N-Q.2

1 9 0-0 ch, Barchitov-Vasiliev, U S S R 1 964; and in both cases it is

doubtful whether Black can survive.

60

The Modern Bmoni

u N x B eh
A very interesting, as yet untried alternative is I J N-N5 ! ? threatening
1 2 p-Q.6 ch followed by N-B7. After this, one somewhat bizarre possi
bility is I I . . . R-K I ( !) 1 2 p-Q.6 ch K-B I 1 3 N-B7 p X P dis. ch 1 4
N X R Q-R5 ch I S K-Q.2 (or 1 5 P-N3 p X P 1 6 N-B3 P-N7 dis. ch is
unclear) K X N 1 6 Q-K I ch Q. x Q. ch 1 7 K X Q. B-K4 and Black's chances
are not worse.
Another complex line is I I P X P as in the game Kavalek-Trapl,
Czech Championship 1 963. There followed I I . . . N X P 1 2 N X B ch
1 4 N-B3 Q-K3
I S N X N B X N 1 6 B-K2 K-N2
Q. X N 1 3 p-Q.6 ch K-B I
1 7 CH) N-B3 1 8 B-N4 Q. X Q.P 1 9 Q.-N3 and now Black blundered with
19 . . . Q-B2 ? losing instantly to 20 R X P ch ! Q. x R 2 I B-R6 ch. Instead
of 19 . . . Q-B2, White's attack is refuted by 19 . . . KR-KB I 20 Q. X NP

Q.R-N I .

11 . . .
12

P-Q.6 ch

Q,xN

In the game Mikenas-Suetin, U S S R Championship 1 962, White played

1 2 N-B3 but Suetin showed that Black can survive the attack with
careful play. There followed 1 2 . . . R-K I ! 1 3 B-B4 K-B I 1 4 0-0
N-N3 I S B-NS R-Q. I
16 p X P ( 1 6 p-Q.6 is an interesting alternative)
1 6 . . . R x p with about equal chances. \Vith the text move White
hopes to take more advantage of the exposed position of the Black
king.

12
1 3 N-B3
14 B-K2
.

K-BI
N-QB3

Weaker is 1 4 B-B4 for after 1 4 . . . N-N3 I S B-N3 P-KS 1 6 N-KS N X N

1 7 P X N P-BS 1 8 B-B2 Q.-B4, Black repulses White's attack, Baumbach
Polugaievsky, Bad Liebenstein 1 963.

14

P-KR3

Worth consideration is returning the pawn with 1 4 . . . P-KS I S N-NS

P-KR3
1 6 N X KP B-Q.S when it is White's king which may then
become stuck in the centre.

15 P x P
16 0-0

N(Q2) x P

White's passed queen's pawn and bishop pair provide ample com
pensation for the sacrificed pawn, but Black should be able to defend
himself satisfactorily. For example Gipslis-Grigorian, Kishinev 1 964,
continued 1 6 . . . N X N ch 1 7 B X N B-Q.S ch 1 8 K-RI K-N2 1 9 B-Q.S
R-B I ( 1 9 . . . p-B3 ?
23 Q-Q.S R-KB I

20 Q-N3 R-Q.N I

24 Q.R-Q. I Q.-N3

2 I B-K6 Q-Q. I

22 B-KB4 N-R4

2S R X B ! and White won quickly,

Till Paum Storm VtriJlitm

61

Zilberberg-Taoin, Correspondence 1967} o B-ItB4 1 21 N3

P-XN4 2 a-N3 N3 3 KB3 P-B4 with an unclear position.
(ii) T.jmaDOv's LiDe : 7 . . . B-N2
diagram 37)

B-N5 ch (from

This is one of the most highly regarded of all lines against the Modern
Benoni. Black cannot play 8 . . . Q.N-Q.2 since it losee a piece to 9 P-K5
followed by p-K6. Also 8 . . . B-Q.2 9 P-K5 is very strong for White ;
for example 9 . . . N-R4 (9 . . . B X B 1 0 P X N B X P 1 1 N X B (c-R4 ch

12

N-B3 B X N ch

1 3 P X B Q. X P ch

compensation for the piece lost)

B XB

1 2 N X B 0--0

14 B-Q.2 gives Black insufficient

10 N-B3 P x P

1 1 P X P 0-0 ( 1 1

1 3 0-0 1C-Q, 2 as in O'Kelly-Diez del Corral,

Madrid 1957, also leaves White with a big advantage after 1 4 (C-K2)
12 B XB N X B

1 3 P-KN4 and White should

win easily.

Thus it will be seen that Black has only one reasonable reply :

8 ...
9 Q.3

KN-Q.2

Having served its purpose in causing extreme congestion on Black's

queen's side the -bishop retreats to prevent Black playing . . . P-Q.1l3

followed by . . . P-Q.N4. Another move with the same motive is 9 P-Q.R4,

but this unnecessarily weakens the pawn formation and allows Black
an easier game ; for example 9 . . . 0--0 (also interesting is 9 . . . (C-1l5 ch
1 0 P-N3 Q.-K2 as in' the game Lutikov-Vasiukov, 26th U S S Il Cham
pionship 1 959, which continued 1 1 N-B3 0-0
"""N-N5

14 B-B I P-N3

1 2 0-0 N-1l3

1 3 Il-K I

1 5 B-B4 B-N2 with problems for both sides)

1 0 N-B3 ( 1 0 KN-K2 ? is quite wrong here ; the game Ustinov-Cholmov,

Ashkhabad
N-KB3

1 96 1 , continued

1 3 P-1l3 P-Q.1l3

1 0 , . . N-1l3

1 4 B-B4 ? N X KP !

winning position for Black) 1 0 . . . N-1l3

1 1 0-0 N-N5

1 2 B-K3

I S N X N Il-K I with a

I I 0-0 N-N5

1 2 B-K3 and

62

TM Modem Bmoni

now Black should not play 1 2 . . . P-N3,

as

in. Zaitsev-Tal, USSB. Cham

1 4 B-R.4 gives White some

pionship 1 962, when 1 3 B-B2 ! N-B3

advantage, but simply 1 2 . . . N-B3 ! since 1 3 P-K5 fails to 1 3 . . . N-N5.

White's central pawns are not really mobile and Black has a perfectly

free and easy game.

Also Black's position is quite satisfactory if White fails to prevent

. . . P-Q.B.3 and ' "

P-Q.N4. In the game Cherepkov-Suetin, Sochi I g6 1 ,
9 N-B3 0--0 1 0 0--0 P--Q.B.3 1 1 B--Q.3 P--Q.N4 was played. There ensued

1 2 !C-K I B.-K I 1 3 !C-N3 P-B5 1 4 B-B2 P-N5

B--Q.2 ! ( 1 6 . . . N X KP ?
attack)
!C-B2 !

1 7 B X N B. X N

1 5 N--Q.R.4 N-KB3 1 6 P-B5

1 8 N-N5

81ves White

1 7 B-N:> B-N4 18 p-K5 ! P X KP 1 9 p X P R.P X P

2 1 N X NP Q. X Q. 2 2 P X Q. Q.N--Q.2 with equal chances.

a strong
20 N X P

43

0-0

9 ...

9 . . . !C-B.5 ch is insufficient here, for after 1 0 P-N3 !C-K2

1 1 N-B3 0--0

1 2 0--0 it is difficult for Black to complete his development ; for example

HI

..

. N-B.3 ( 1 2 . . . N-KB3

14 B-B J ! N-B.3

1 3 p-K5 ! or 1 2 . . . N-N3

1 5 P-KR.3 B X N

1 6 Q. X B N-N5

Gromek, Polish Championship 1 960)

1 5 P--Q.R.4 P--Q.B.3

1 6 P-K5 B-N2

1 3 B.-K I B-N5

1 7 !C-Q. I , Sliwa

1 3 B.-K I N-B2

14 B-B I P-N3

1 7 N-KN5, Sliwa-Perez, Marianske

Lazne 1 96 1 ; and in all cases White has a clear plus.

An interesting alternative, however, is 9

. . . P--Q.R3

1 0 P--Q.R.4 !C-R.4 ! ?

as played in the game Gromek-Polugaievsky, Marianske Lazne 1 959.

There followed 1 1 B2 !C-N3
12 N-B3 0--0 i 3 !C-B2 R-K I
14 K--Q. I
(after 14 B-B4 B--Q.5 ! gives reasonable chances) N-KB3

15 P-B.3 Q.N--Q.2

1 6 B.-K I !C-B2 with chances for both sides.

lo N-B3

Black now has two reasonable plans starting with the moves 1 0 . . . N-B.3
and 1 0 . . . P-Q.R3 respectively. Other tenth moves are dealt with
later.

The Pawn Storm Variation

63

oH
B

(a)

10

. . .

N-R3

This is the more ambitious, but less convincing, of Black's possibilities.

N-lIQ

11 0-0

In the game Shamkovitch-Suetin, Charkov

1 956, Black played I I ' "

1 3 B-B I N-KB3 1 4 P-Q.R3 N-R3, and now after
Taimanov's recommendation, 1 5 p-R3 !, it is very difficult for Black to
R-KI

1 2 N-Q.2 N-N5

obtain counterplay.
Also I I . . . N-N3 fails to equalise, for example 1 2 B-K3 R-K I
1 3 B
KB2 P-B5 1 4 B-B2 N-N5 1 5 B-N I B-N5 1 6 P-Q.R3 N-R3 1 7 P-R3 ,
Antoshin-Gusev, Moscow 1 962. Worth consideration, however, is I I . . .
R-N I ? ! to answer 1 2 N-Q.2 with . P-Q.N4 ! ( 1 3 N X P p-B5 !)
. .

Ut

N-Q.2
45
B

1 2 B2 R':"NI

1 3 P-Q.N3 P-Q.N4

game AIster-Clarke, Wageningen

into a drawn ending with

14 B-N2 is an insipid plan. In the

1 957, Black now forced the game
P-B5 1 5 p X P p X P 1 6 B X P N X P

14
1 7 B X N N3 ch 1 8 R-B2 Q.XB, etc.
1 2 K-R I also lacks bite. For example 1 2 . . . P-Q.R3
.

1 3 P-Q.R4 R-NI

Th4 Modem Benoni

64

1 4 P-RS P-N3

IS P X P R X P

1 6 N-Q.2 N..,.B3

1 7 Q-B3 N-N4

1 8 N-B4

N-Q.S 1 9 Q-B2 R-NS and Black gained the initiative, Gastonyi-Forintos,

Gyula 1 965. More critical here is 14 P-BS as in Spassky-Savon, p. 88.
la

...

N-B3

12

. .

P-Q.N4 is bad after 1 3 N X P N X N

1 4 B X N R-N I (O'Kelly

van Seters, Brussels 19S9) and now I S B-Q.3 ! B X P

1 7 NB4 with a clear advantage. (Analysis by Evans. )
12

. .

16 B X B R X B

R-N I ( !) i s probably Black's best chance of equality, Saidy

Evans, u s Championship 1 964, continued 1 3 P-Q.R4 P-Q.R3

N-Kl

IS Q.-B3 Q-B2

1 4 N-B4

1 6 P-RS P-Q.N4 with counterplay for Black.

This line holds out the best prospects for Black to justify his plan of

N-R3 and . . . N-B2, and shows that it is possible to keep White's

formidable pawn centre under restraint while preparing a queen's side

advance.

13 P-KR3

R-KI

Now the game Taimanov-Trifunovic, U S S R v Yugoslavia 1957, con

tinued 14 Q-B3 ? R-N I ?

I S P-Q.R4 N-R3

P-Q.R3

19 P-BS ! B-K2

PxP

18 P-RS ! B-B I
22 p-Q.6 B x P

23 N x B Q. x N

16 N-B4 N-Q.NS
20 P X P BP X P

1 7 B-N I
2 1 P-KS !

24 N-K4 resigns. What both

playel'S overlooked at move 14 was that after 14 Q-B3 ? Black can win
a pawn with 14 . . . KN X Q.P !

I S P X N B-Q.S ch

1 6 K-R I R-K6. How

ever, this tactical circumstance does little to affect the view that White's
position is clearly superior, for he may avoid the trap by playing

14 P-Q..R4 followed

by N-B4 and only then does he play Q.-B3' With

this move order White has exactly the same plan as in the game above
and Black is in great difficulties avoiding Trifunovic's fate.

(b)

10

. . . P-QR3 (from diagram 44)

Here Black adopts the alternative plan of developing his queen's knight
on Q.2,. which with his queen on Q.B2 will restrain the threatened white
pawn advance in the centre.

11 P-Q.R4 (see diagram 46)

N-KB3
11.

With this move Black goes into a four pawns attack type of position,
in which he hopes that the misplacing of the White bishop on Q.3 will
make up for the move lost. (Black has forfeited two tempi in the
wanderings of his king's knight, while the White bishop has contrived
to reduce the net loss to one move.) Since Black's main fear is that
White will play P-KS, there is certainly some justification for his hopes,

The

Pawn Storm

Variation

65

is much Ipore difficult to execute with the bishop on

Q.3 owing to the resulting weakness of the queen's pawn.
An alternative plan is the very interesting I I
Q-B2. In the cor
respondence game Fink-Koblentz 1 959, there followed 1 2 N-Q2 (after
1 2 0-0 P-B5 1 3 B-B2 N-B4 14 B-K3 B-N5 1 5 B-Q4 B X N 1 6 R X B
B x B ch 1 7 Q.X B Q.N-Q2 Black had adequate resources, Marsalek
Forintos, Leninrad 1 960 ) p-B5 ? ! 1 3 N X P N-B4 1 4 0-0 B-N5 1 5
Q;-B2 N X B 1 6 Q.X N N-Q2 1 7 P-R3 N-B4 1 8 Q;-B2 B-Q2 1 9 P-R5
and Black had nebulous chances for the pawn sacrificed ; 1 9 . . . B X N
for this advance

leads to obscure complications.

12 0--0
Feeble is

1 2 N-Q.2 which allows Black to seize centrol of the /iame with

1 2 . . . R-K I 1 3 0-0 N-N5 ! 14 N-B3 p-B5 ! +.

12 . . .
13 P-KR3
14 Q.xB
15 B-Q.2

B-N5
BxN
Q.N-Q.2

1 5 B-K3 ? gives Black the chance to secure strong counterplay by

15
R-K I 1 6 B-B2 Q-R4
1 7 K-R I Q-N5 ! 1 8 P-R5 P-QN4 19 KR-QNI P-B5 +, Kluger-Tringov,
'
Sofia 1 962.

vigorous action on the queen's wing :

15 . . .

. .

Q.-Ib

Black's firm grip on his

' "

K4 square, and possibilities of play on the

queen's side give him reasonable prospects. The game Kvatkovsky

Scherbakov, Sochi

1 96 1 , continued 1 6 B-B4 KR-K I

1 7 Q.R-K I R-K2

with equal chances.

(c)

Other Tenth Moves (from diagram 44)

No moves besides
of equality :

1 0 . . . N-R3 or 1 0

P- Q.R3 really give much chance

66

The Motkm Bmoni

(a) 10 . . . p-N3 ? I I Q-X2 ! ( I I 0-0 Blt3 is not bad for Black)

N-KB3 12 0--0 It-XI 13 P-XS ! Q.N2 14 B-B4 p x p IS P X P N-N5
16 B-KNS P-B3 1 7 p6 ch X-ItI 18 p-x6 (A. Zaitsev-Dzhindzbihash
viIi, Leningrad 1962) is a fine example of what to avoid as Black in the
Modem Benoni. We give a diagram to serve as a horrible warning:

47
B

(b) 10 .. . Q-N3 ? I I N2 Plt3 J2 lt4 B-Q.S 13 N-B4 Q-B2

14 N-K2 B-N2 IS 2 P-N3 16 Q-N3 with a deal" advantage to
White, Alatortsev-Aronin, 18th USSIt CIw!lpionship I9SO.
(3) 10 . N-KB3 I I 0--0 It-XI ? (It is best to play I I
P-Q.lt3 or
I I ... B-NS attempting to transpose into variation 2 above) 12 B-NS
B-Q.2 13 P-xS !l XB 14 NXB X P IS P X P N-XS 16 p-Q.6 N-It3
I 7 and Black is in great difficulty, Lapienis-Shirochin, Baku 1966.
. .

F. The Penrose-Tal Line

6 P-Kf P-KN, 7 B-Q.s B-Na 8 KN-Ka 0-0 9 0-0 (frflm diagram I)

This line became one of the most feared against the Modem Benoni in
1960 after the Finnish master Ojanen beat Keres at Helsinki, and
Jonathan Penrose subsequently beat Tal at Leipzig using it. White's
play is based on using his central pawns as a basis for a king's side
attack. The thematic method of developing the onslaught is to play
P-KB4, N-N3, Q-B3 and 'an eventual thrust in the centre with P-xS,
answering . .. Q.P x P with P-BS. The resulting attack on the KB -file n
prove very dangerous indeed. The variation is less popular now, since
Black's correct defensive measures have been shown, though it remains
one of White's sharper anti-Benoni weapons and leads to very interest
ing miqdle-game positions.

TIll Pmrou-Tal Litv

An idea of the Soviet master K1aman is

by playing

to delay

67

castling for White

9 B-KN5 instead of 0-0, in an attempt to induce a weakness

in Black's king's side. This line is interesting but needs further testa to
prove itself a reliable weapon. For example 9 . . . P-KJl3 1 0 Jt-QlI (or
1 0 B-U4 P-N3 1 1 2 Jt-Jt2 12 N-N3 B-1l3 1 3 P-Kll4 B X B 14XB P-Jtll4 15 B-N5 Q;-BI 16 P-K5 N-N5 17 p X P P-B5 with com
plications, Klaman-Vladimirov, Leningrad Championship 1965)
10 ... N2 1 1 N-N3 N-K4 12 B-U ll-KI 13 P-B4 N(It4)2
14 0-0 P-1l3 1 5 R4 P-JtR4 with a difficult struggle ahead, Klaman
Vladimirov, semi-final Leningrad Championship 1 966.

4B

As usual Black has the full range of typical Modern Benoni plans from
which to choose his continuation. We examine (i) 9 . . . R3, (ll) 9 .. .

P-N3, (ill) 9
(i) 9

...

. . . N-R3 and (iv)

9 . . . N-Jt l .

P-<Pls

This is the plan used by Keres and Tal in their defeats mentioned
above. It is therefore not surprising that it fell into disfavour, although
it seems that Black may adopt it without any disadvantage.

lo P-Q.14

11 P-R3

UP, for if at once

Black gains the advantage with 1 1 . . . P-B5 III 8-BlI N-MS I
An alternative plan for White, developed by the Hungarian grand
master Bilek, is 1 1 N-N3 N2 12 Q;-U R-E.I 1 3 P-B4, for example
1 3 . . . N XKP ! ? ( 1 3 . . . p-B5 ? I 14 B X P N-B4 15 P-K51 p X P 16 P-B5
P-KS 1 7 B-KN5 Q;-K4 1 8 B-B4 , Bilek-Stein, Amsterdam 1964)
1 4 N XN P-B4 . 15 B-!l2 I 16 R-R3 P-N3 1 7 I P X N 18 P
BS ! N-K4 19 B XP R-BI 20 Q;-B2 Q;-R5 1 with about equal chances,
Bilek-Schmid, Te1 Aviv 1964.
This is a necessary precaution before advancing the

1 1 p.-:B4?

68

The Modem Bmoni

11 ...
III P-Ilf

Q.N-Q.1I

It makes no difference whether this or

1 2 N-N3

is played

first since both

are essential to White's plan.

49

III

R-NI

In the Penrose-Tal and Ojanen-Keres games Black played

12
R-KI
1 3 N-N3 P-BS 1 4 B-B2 N-B4. The former then continued I S ICB3
KN-Q.2 1 6 B-K3 P-Q.N4 1 7 P X P R-NI 1 8 ICB2 ! P X P - 19 P-KS !
P X P 20 P-BS ! ; and the latter game went I S K-RI B-Q,2 1 6 ICB3
K-RI 1 7 B-K3 N-NI 1 8 Q,R--Q. I P-Q,N4 19 p X P P X P 20 P-KS ! P X P
2 I P'-BS ! and in both cases White developed an overwhelming attack.
(See illustrative games.) Black should leave his rook on KB I where it

defends against the attack more effectively.

13 N-N3
14 B-B2

P-BS
P-Q.N4

IS P X P
16 B-K3

PxP
P-NSl

1 4 . . . P-N3 is too slow ; the correspondence game Pavoblek-Preo con

1 7 Q,R--Q. I P--Q.N4 1 8 P x P
tinued I S B-K3 N-B4 1 6 ICB3 KN--Q.2
p X P 1 9 P-KS P X P 20 P-BS with great difficulties for Black.

The position

is very delicately balanced and gives chances to both sides.

1 962, continued 1 7 R-R7 ICQ I 1 8 N-R4
1 9 P-N3 p-B6 20 N-K2 R-R4 2 1 R X R Q,X R and the situation

Bertok-Portisch1 Stockholm

R-N4

remains very unclear.

Illwtrative Games

Pearose Black : Tal Leipzig 1 960

1 P--Q.4 N-KB3 2 P--Q.B4 P-K3 3 N-Q,B3 P-B4 4 P-Q,S P x P S P x P
P-Q.3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B--Q.3 B-N2 8 KN-K2 0--0 9 0--0 P--Q.R3 1 0
P--Q.R4 Q,B2 I I P-R3 Q,N--Q.2 1 2 P-B4 R-KI 13 N-N3 P-BS 14 B-B2

White :

The Penrore- Tal Line

69

N-B4 IS Q-B3 KN-Q.2 1 6 B-K3 P-Q.N4 1 7 P X P R-N I 18 Q-B2 p X P

1 9 P-KS P X P 20 P-BS B-N2 2 1 Q,R-Q.I B-Q,RI 22 Q,N-K4 N-RS 23
B X N P X B 24 p X P BP X P 2S Q-B7 ch K-R I 26 N-Q.BS Q-R2 2 7 Q, X N
Q, x Q, 2 8 N X Q, R X P 2 9 N-N6 R-N6 30 N X BP R-Q. I 3 1 p-Q.6 R-B6
32 Q,R-B I R X R 33 R x R B-Q.4 34 N-N6 B-N6 3S N-K4 P-R3 36 P-Q, 7
B-B I 37 R-B8 B-K2 38 B-BS B-RS 39 P-N3 resigns.
White : Ojanen Black: Kere. Helsinki 1960
First 14 !U0ves as above : IS K-R I B-Q,2 16 Q,-B3 K-R I 1 7 B-K3 N-N I
18 Q,R-Q.I P-Q,N4 1 9 p X P P X P 20 P-KS ! P X P 2 1 P-BS ! P-NS 2 2
p-Q.6 R4 23 Q,N-K4 N-Q,6 24 B X N P X B 2S P-B6 B-KB I 26 R X P
N-R3 2 7 KR-Q. I KR-Q. I 28 Q-B2 ! Q-N4 29 Q,-Q,2 N-B4 30 N x N
B X N 3 1 R-Q.S Q-N2 32 N-BS Q-B3 33 B-R6 ! B X B 34 Q, X B R-KNI
3S R X P Q,R-Q, I 36 R-Q,4 P-N4 37 R X B R X P 38 R x KNP resigns.

(ii) 9

. . .

P-N3 (from diagram 48)

This is yet another of Suetin's ideas. Black plans to exchange the white
squared bishops with . . B-Q,R3 in order to lessen the force of White's
attack and to gain more space for his own pieces. The line has only
seldom been played and certainly deserves more attention.
.

10 N-N3
It is not clear what is White's best method of continuing. Other lines
to have been played are as follows :
(a) 1 0 P-B4 B-Q.R3 1 1 B X B N X B 1 2 N-N3 P-BS 1 3 B-K3 N-B4
14 B-Q.4 R-K I I S P-BS N-Q,6 16 Q,-B3 N-K4 1 7 B x N R X B with good
play for Black, Giterman-Suetin, semi-final 29th U S S R Championship
1 96 1 .
(b) 1 0 B-KNS P-KR3 I I B-R4 B-R3 1 2 P-B3 B X B 1 3 Q, X B P-R3
14 Q,R-K 1 Q,N-Q,2 l S P-B4 Q-B2 1 6 N-N3 P-BS ! 1 7 Q,-Q.2 Q,R-K 1

Tu Modem Benoni

70

1 8 R.-K2 P-Q.N4

1 9 N-Q. I Q;-B4

ch

20 K-RI P-NS
1 96 1 .

with the better

game for Black; Banfalvi-Suetin, Debrecen

10 . . .
R3
1 1 ....0"

If I I P-B4 Black secures active play with I I . . . N-NS ! 1 2 Q.XN (12

B XB ? B-Q.S ch 1 3 X-RI Q;-RS ! + ) B X B 1 3 R-KI N-Q.2. I n the game
Schweber-Garcia, Buenos Aires 1 964, there followed 14 Q;-B3 B-Q.R3
I S P-N3 B-Q.S ch 1 6 K-RI Q;-RS with level chances.

11
III (tx B

BxB
N-N5

1 964.
1 3 Q;-Q.2 P-Q.R3 14 Q.R-KI R-R2 I S R-K2 P-Q.N4 1 6 P
KR3 N-K4 1 7 B-R6 B X B 1 8 Q.XB P-B3 with a sound equality.
The prospects are about even. The game Szabo-Ivkov, Belgrade
continued

(ill ) 9

. . .

N-R3 (from diagram 48)

This continuation became popular while

It

is

9 . . . P-Q.R3

was in disrepute.

not certain what White's best reply is, since there are several

attractive plans of attack.

51

lo N-N3
This is the oldest and most often seen continuation, but many other
moves have also been tried here :

10 B-KNS. was successful in the game Ivkov-Jansa, Vrnjacka

1 967, when after 1 0 . . . N-B2 I I P-B4 P-KR3 1 2 B-R4 R-KI
1 3 P-R4 P-R3 14 P-R3 R-NI I S B-B2 ! P-Q.N4 1 6 P-KS p X P 1 7 P
Q.6 N-RI 1 8 P X NP RP X P 1 9 p X P R X P 20 B-N3 White had a very
strong position. In this line the exchange sacrifice 1 3 . . . P-KN4 (instead
of I 3 . . . P-R3)
14 p X P N-NS I S Q;-Q.2 R-K4 1 6 P-R3 p X P 1 7 B-N3
N-R3 1 8 B X R B X B has been suggested, but as Ivkov pointed out
I S p-N6 !, instead of 15 Q;-Q.2 is good for White.
(a)

Banja

The Pmrose-1 at Line

Mter

10 B-KN5

I I B-R4 P-KN4 12 B-N3 N-R4

1 96 1 . There followed 1 3 (C-Q,2
15 P-Q.R4 R-N I 16 P-B4 P-N4 with chances

crucial is

10

71

P-R3

as played Johner-Bialas, Neuhausen

N-B2

14 Q.R-KI P-R3

for both sides.

1 0 P-KR3 N-B2 I I P-Q.R4 P-N3 1 2 B-KNS is a similar plan ;

12
P-KR3 ( 1 2
P-Q.R3 1 3 P-B4 (C-Q,2 14 (C-Q,2 B-N2
I S P-BS ! gave White a strong attack in van Seters-Bredewout, Mondorf
1 963) 1 3 B-R4 B-R3 1 4 P-B4 B X B 1 5 Q.XB (C-K I 16 Q.R-Q. I ( 1 6
P-KS ! gives better prospects) N-Q.2 1 7 P-KS P X P 18 p-Q.6 with
(b)

for example

. .

complications, but Black is at least holding his own, Ivkov-Toran,

1 966.
10 P-Q.R3, with the intention of disrupting Black's queen's side
with P-Q.N4, is a recent idea, but s":ould not prove dangerous. For
example 1 0 . . . R-K I (also interesting is 1 0 . . . N-B2 I I R-N I P-Q.N4
1 2 P-Q.N4 P-BS 1 3 B-B2 B-Q.2 as in Ojanen-Westerinen, Helsinki
1966) I I P-R3 P-BS 1 2 B-B2 N-B4 1 3 N-N3 p-KR4 \ 1 4 B-N5 Q-N3
I S R-N I N-R2 1 6 B-K3 P-RS with active play for Black, Ghitescu
Kavalek, Beverwijk 1 967.
(d) 10 P-B3 is very solid but has little other merit. Hort-Jakobsen,
Copenhagen 1 965, continued 1 0 . . . R-N I
I I P-R3 B-Q.2 12 R-N I
Q-B2 1 3 B-K3 P-BS 14 B-Q.B2 N-B4 IS N-Q.4 P-Q.N4 with good play
Palma
(c)

for Black.
10 . . .

N-B2

Also possible is 1 0

. . . R-K I I I P-KR3 R-N I , and now White should

12 p-B4 ! with attacking chances, rather than 12 P-Q.R4 N-Q.NS
1 3 B-N I P-Q.R3 14 P-B4 P-Q.N4 with strong counterplay, Aaron-Stein,
Stockholm 1 962.

play

52
W

R-NI
P-KR3
I
R-K I is an interesting alternative. In the game Ivkov-Najdorf,
Havana 1 966, there followed 1 2 B-KB4 ( 1 2 P-Il4 may be stronger, but
11
I

. .

The ModmI Benom

72

then 1 2
P-Q.N4 is very obscure) 1 2
P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 R-N I
14 P-R5 P-QN4 1 5 P X p e.p. Q,R >S P and Black secured an active game
,
(see illustrative game)

P-Q,R3
P-Q,14
12
P-N3 1 3 P-B4 P-Q,R3 14 Q,-B3 P-Q.N4 was the old way of
treating the position, but since it is not dangerous for Black if White
plays P-R5, this is quite unnecessary and merely amounts to the loss
of a move.
13 P-B4
1 3 P-R5 P-Q,N4 gives Black the better chances after either 1 4 P-B4 P-N5
1 5 N-NI R-K I 1 6 Q,-B3 N-N4, Sallay-Varnusz, Hungarian Champion
ship 1 96 1 ; or 14 p x p e.p. R X P 1 5 P-B4 N-N4, Dozsa-Lengyel,
Budapest 1 962.
13
P-Q,N4
P xP
14 P x P
P-N5
15 Q,-B3
Black has a promising position. The game Garcia-Kavalek, Bucharest
1 966, continued 1 6 N-Q, I N-N4 1 7 B X N R X B 1 8 N-K3 N-Q,2 1 9 N
B4 N-N3 20 N-R5 B-Q,2 and Black's chances are not worse.
la

(iv) 9 . . . N-KI (from diagram 48)

is an idea of Matulovic's which he has played twice against
Ghitescu. Both games continued 10 B-K3 N-Q,2 X I P-B4 P-Q,R3
12 P-Q,R..f p-r 3 13 R-NJ ; in the first, at Bucharest 1 966, there
followed 1 3 . . . Q,-K2 14 B-KB2 Q,N-B3 15 P-R3 P-Q,N4 1 6 P X P P X P
1 7 P-Q,N4 P-B5 1 8 B-B2 with some advantage for White. In the second
game, at Havana 1 966, Matulovic attempted to improve with 1 3
B-N2 but after 1 4 Q,-Q,2 R-B I 1 5 P-Q,N4 KN-B3 1 6 P-R3 R-K I 1 7 B
KB2 Q,-B2 1 8 P-N5 P-Q,R4 White again had the preferable position.
It seems that 9 . . . N-K I is too passive to give good prospects of equality,
and Black is better advised to play one of the lines discussed above.
This

Illustrative Game
White : Ivkov Black : Najdorf Havana 1 966
I P-Q,4 N-KB3 2 P-Q,B4 P-KN3 . 3 N-Q,B3 P-B4 4 P-Q,5 B-!\!2 5 P-K4
P-Q,3 6 B-Q,3 0-0 7 KN-K2 P-K3 8 0-0 P X P 9 BP X P R-K I 1 0 N
N3 N-R3 I I P-KR3 N-B2 1 2 B-KB4 P-Q,R3 1 3 P-Q,R4 R-N I 14 P-R5
P-Q,N4 1 5 P X P e.p. Q,R X P 1 6 N-R4 R-N2 1 7 R-N I N-N4 1 8 P-N4
p-B5 ! 1 9 B-B2 N-Q,2 20 N-K2 N-K4 2 1 B-B I Q,-R5 22 P-B4 N-Q.2
23 B-N2 B X B 24 R X B N-B3 25 Q,N-B3 N X N 26 N X N B X P 2 7 Q,-Q,4

Other Systems

73

B-D4 28 B-N I N-N5 29 P-N3 Q,x P ch 30 R-N2 Q,-R6 3 ' - P XB N-K6

32 B-K4 Q,R-K2 33 R(B I )-B2 N X R 34 R X N Q,-R5 35 R-KB2 P-B3
36 Resigns.

G. Other Systems

(from diagram I)

53

This is the most important of the less usual lines against the Modern
Benoni. White attempts to take advantage of the weak Black queen's
pawn.

7 ...
This is a natural but dangerous reply. Occasionally the attempt has
been made to anticipate White's next move with 7 . . . P-Q.R3, for
example 8 P-Q.R4 B-N2 9 P-K4 0-0 1 0 B-K2 (or 1 0 N-Q.2 N-R4 I I B-K3
N-Q.2 1 2 B-K2 KN-B3 1 3 0-0 R-N I 14 Q.-B2 N-K I 1 5 KR-K I , Rossetto
Lokvenc, Varna 1 962, and Black's position is uncomfortable) 1 0 . . .
Q.-K2 ? I I N-Q,2 Q.N--Q.2 1 2 0-0 N-K4 1 3 P-R3 N-K I 1 4 B-R2 P-B4
1 5 P-B4 N-Q.2 1 6 B,-Q.3, Bachmann-Langeweg, Scheveningen 1 963, and
again Black has difficulty in freeing himself. See Vaganian-Tal, p. 89
for improvements.
8

Q.-Jlt ch

This is the point of White's system, and is the only move to give
Black any worries. The slower plan of 8 P-KR3 0-0 9 P-K3 is com
pletely innocuous, for example 9 . . . P--Q.R3 (also 9 . . . P-N3 1 0 N--Q. 2
N-K I, I I N-B4 B-Q.R3 1 2 P--Q.R4 B X N 1 3 B X B, Keres-Tal, Estonia
v Latvia 1 954 ; and 9 . . . N-K I 1 0 B-K2 Q.N--Q2 1 1 0-0 N-K4 1 2 B X N

74

TM ModmI Bmoni

P X B 1 3 KN-Q.2 P-B4 14 Q;-N3 N-Q.3 I S N-B4 P-KS, Tal-Spassky,

Leningrad 1 954, both give Black good prospects) 1 0 P-Q.R4 N-R4 !
I I B-R2 p-B4 ! 1 2 B-K2 P-BS 1 3 P-K4 N-Q.2 14 0-0 K-lt l IS K-ltl
It-NI with the better game for Black, Furman"-Forintos, Oberhausen
1961.
J

. .

1 0 P-K4 is considerably better for White.

8 . . . Q-Q.2

9 Q;-N3
10 P-Kf

10 N-Q.2 ? N-R4 ! I I B-NS P-Klt3 1 2 B-R4 0-0 1 3 P-K3 P-KN4 is

good for Black. Also the ingenious l O B X p ? Q. x B I I Q. x P fails to
II
0-0 1 2 Q. x It Q;-N3.

10 . . .

0--0

1 0 . . . N-R4 is inferior, for example I I B-K3 0-0 1 2 B-K2 P-Q.R3

1 3 P-Q.R4 N-KB3 14 N-Q.2 , Shashin-Stahlberg, Erevan 1965.
54
W

11

B-IU

Alternatives accomplish nothing :

(a) I I B-Q.3 N-R3 (or I I . . . R-K I 1 2 0-0 P-BS ! 13 B X P N X KP,
Perez-Donner, Whitby 1 960, when 14 N-Q.NS ! ? leads to complications)
1 2 O-O_ N-ll4 13 B-K3 Q.R-N I 14 B-K2 B-NS with equality, Toran
Nievergelt, Lugano 1 9S9.
(b) I I N-Q.2 N-R4 ! 1 2 B-K3 P-B4 1 3 p X P p X P 14 P-N3 N-R3
I S B-K2 P-BS ! 16 p x P N X P 1 7 R-KN I Q.R-K I (or I 7 . . . N X B 1 8 N X N
B-B4 19 B-R6 B-N3 20 B X B Q.X B 2 1 N-K4 Q.-K4 with good play for
Black, Vladimirov-Gufeld, Tashkent 1 9S8) 1 8 N(Q.2)-K4 K-RI 1 9
P-Q.R3 N X B 2 0 K X N P-N4 2 1 N-NS P-BS 22 Q.-Q. I N-B4 with
advantage to Black, Chukaev-Suetin, Sochi 1 96 1 .
P-Q.N41
11 ...
The clearest way to equalise. Other lines played are as follows :
(a) 1 1 . . . N-R4( ?) 1 2 B-K3 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 B-NS 14 P-R3 B X N

Other Systems

75

15 B XB N-Q.2 1 6 0--0 Q.R-N I ,17 B X N P XB 1 8 Q-Q. I , Filip-Kluger,

Budapest Ig6I .
(b) 1 1
N-R3( ?) 1 2 0--0 KR-B I . 1 3 N-Q.2 N-KI 1 4 Q.R-B I Q.R
NI 1 5 B-N3 P-Q.N4 1 6 P-Q.R4 p X P 1 7 Q.-R3 , Sacharov-Gufeld,
Kiev 1 958.
(c) I I
R-K I 12 N-Q.2 P-Q.N4! ( 1 2
N-R3 13 0--0 Q.R-NI
14 KR-K I gives White a clear advantage, Uhlmann-Dely, Erfurt 1 955)
1 3 B X NP N X KP 14 Q.N X N P-B4 1 5 B-K2 P X N 16 N-B4 B-BI 1 7 Q.
N3 B-N4 with equality, Uhlmann-Milic, Marianske Lazne 1 96 1 .
(d) I I
B-N5 1 2 N-Q.N5 ! ? Q.-R4 ch 1 3 N-Q.2 B X B ( 1 3
P-BS ?
14 Q.XBP R-BI IS Q-Q.3 B X B 1 6 Q.><B N X KP 1 7 0--0 , Petrosian
Nievergelt, Munich 1 958) 1 4 K X B P-Q.R3 I S N XP P-Q.N4 with com
plications (analysis by Petrosian).
(e) 1 1
P-Q.R3 I 2 P-K5 ( 1 2 P-Q.R4 ? B-N5 I 3 0--0 Q.N-Q.2 I 4 KR
K I B X N I S B XB KR-K I is good for Black, Lutikov-Suetin, Moscow
1 958) p X P 1 3 B X KP Q.-B I with an unclear position.
IIZ N x P
Also 1 2 B X NP N X KP 1 3 N X N Q.-R4 ch 14 B-Q.2 Q.X B I S Q.X Q. B X Q.
1 6 N X Q.P B-Q.R3 I 7 0--0-0 R-Q. I leads to equality, Bertholdt-Feuer
stein, Reykjavik 1 957.
BxN
I

13 B x B

N x KP

Evans-Perez, Amsterdam 1 964, now continued 1 4 0--0 P-Q.R3

Q.3 N-KB3 with equal chances.

(ii)

P-Kt P-KN3

IS B

B-KB4 (from diagram I )

SS
B

This is a similar plan to the last, but in some ways is better motivated,
for now 7
B-N2 gives White good chances with 8 B-NS ch B-Q.2
9 B-K2 ! (9 B X P ? B X B 1 0 N X B Q.-R4 ch I I N-B3 N X KP loses for

76

The Modern Bmoni

White, and

9 B X B ch Q. X B 1 0 N-B3 0--0 I I 0-0 R-K I 1 2 R-K I

N-R3 also achieves nothing, Wade-Lehmann, Munich 1 954) 9 ,
Q:
B2 (9 . . . Q:-K2. 1 0 Q:-N3 P-N3 I I N-B3 0-0 1 2 N-Q.2 R-Q. I 1 3 0-0 ,
Korchnoi-Klein, Santa Fe 1 960)
1 0 N-B3 0-0 ( 1 0 . . ' P-Q.R3 I I 0-0
0-0 1 2 p-K5 ! p X P 1 3 N X P IC-Q. I 14 B-B3 , Geller-Suetin, USSR
Championship 1 960)
I I N-Q.2 a-K I 1 2 0-0 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-Q.R4 B
Q.B I 14 B-N3 and Black's position is very difficult, Bachmann
Langeweg, Bamberg 1 962.
The best reply for Black is the cautious 7 . . . P-Q.R3{l) which
secures him a perfectly satisfactory position. For example 8 P-Q.1lf
B-Nz 9 N-B3 0-0 10 B-Q.3 (Alster-Enevoldsen, Moscow 1954)
and now either 1 0 . . . Q:-K2 foliowed by . . Q.N-Q.2, . . . N-K I and . . . N-K4,
or 1 0 . . . B-N5 equalises.

(ill ) 6 P-Kf P-KN3 7 N-B3 N2

( from diagram I )

Q,3
56
B

This system is quite harmless, for the bishop is badly placed on

Q.3

both from the point of view of-restraining Black's queen's side advance,
and for preparing play in the centre.

8 ...

0-0

90-0

B-N51

This is the clearest way to equalise ;

9 ' " P-Q.R3 1 0 P-Q.R4 B-N5 !

9
Q.N-Q.2 1 0 B-KB4 Q."':K2 I I R
K I N-K I 1 2 N-Q.2 N-K4 1 3 B-B2 B-Q.2 14 P-Q.R4 N-B2 1 5 B-KN3
P-KN4, Lebedev-Vasiukov, Moscow Championship 1 955, with difficult
play. Unsatisfactory for Black is 9 . . . N-R3 1 0 P-KR3 N-B2 I I R-K I
R-N I 1 2 P-Q.R4 P-Q.R3 1 3 P-R5 P-Q.N4 14 p X P e.p. R X P 1 5 N-Q.2
N-N4 16 N-B4 R-N I 1 7 B-N5 and White has the better game,
Cholmov-Birbrager, Lvov 1 968.
transposes. An interesting idea is

. .

Other

lo P-KR3
11 Q.x B
12 P-Q.1lf

77

B xN
P-Q.R3

As Suetin has pointed out, 1 2 B-KB4 P-Q.N4

White since 14 p-Q.6 fails to 14

12 . . .
13 Q.-K2

Systems

1 3 P-K5 P X P is weak for

Q.N-Q.2 .

Q.N-Q.2

If 1 3 B-KB4 Q;-B2 14 Q;-K2 Black's best is 14 . . . Q.R-B I ( 1 4 . . . R-KI

is Donner-Tal, Zurich 1 959, but then Boleslavsky's recommendation
of 15 Q.R-B I N-K4 16 P-Q.N3 makes it difficult for Black to obtain
counterplay) . Liptay-Portisch, Hungarian Championship 1 963, then
continued 1 5 B-B4 KR-K I 16 Q;-B2 R-K2 I 7 B-KR2 Q.R-K I with
advantage to Black.
1 3 Q;-Q. I also fails to cause difficulties. In the game Mititelu-Tal,
Reykjavik 1 957, there followed 1 3 . . . Q.-B2 14 B-KB4 KR-KI 1 5 .Q;
Q.2 N-K4 1 6 B-K2 Q;-R4 1 7 B-KN5 Q;-N5 1 8 Q.R-KI Q.N-Q.2 1 9 B
Q.3 P-N4 20 K-R I P-B5 with good counterplay for Black.

13 . . .

R-KI

1 3 . . . Q;-B2 is more dangerous, for example 14 P-B4 ( 1 4 B-KN5 Q.R-B I

15 Q.R-KI P-B5 16 B-N I KR-KI I 7 Q;-Q.2 N-B4 with equal chances,
Pomar-Eliskases, Torremolinos 1 96 1 ) 14 . . . KR-K I 15 Q;-B3 P-B5
1 6 B-B2 Q;-B4 ch 1 7 K-R I P-Q.N4 18 B-K3 Q;-N5 1 9 R-R2 N-B4
20 P-K5, Pfleger-Filipowicz, Tel Aviv 1 964, with complications.
Now Black has no worries, since 14 P-B4 may be answered by 14 . . .
N x KP 1 5 N X N P-B4 with not the slightest advantage to White.

(iv) 6 P-K.f P-KN3 7 P-B3 :S-N2

(from diagram I )

:S-KNS

This is another feeble system. Simplest then is 8 . . 0-0 (8 . . P-KR3

deserves attention also) 9 Q;-Q.2 P-Q.R3 10 P-Q.1lf Q-Ilf ( 1 0 . . .
R-KI I I KN-K2 Q.N-Q.2 1 2 N-B I R-N I 1 3 B-K2 Q;-B2 1 4 N-N3
Q;-N3 1 5 R-R3 N-K4 1 6 P-R5 Q;-N5 1 7 N-R4, Franco-Tal, Vama
1 962, is very complex) 11 R-R3 Q.N-Q.2 12 KN-Kst R-KI 13
N-BI N-Kf 14 B-Kst P-R4 15 0-0 N-R2 16 B-K3 P-B4 with
good play for Black, Bronstein-Larsen, Belgrade I g64.
.

(v) 6 P-K.f P-KN3 7 :S-K2 :S-N2

P-KN4 ?!

Finally, this outlandish plan may be recommended to those of gangster

temperament.

78

TM Motkm Benoni

8 .. .

0-0

Also 8 .. , (C-K2 leads to bizarre play

as in the correspondence game

van den Bergh-van Hwnbeeck, in which there followed 9 P-B3 1l3
10 P-KR4 P--Q.N4 I I P-1l5 Q.N--Q.2 1 2 p-1l6 B-B I

g P-KR4

The consistent continuation, ' but against reasonable play White's

attack may be refuted. We consider three examples :
(a) 9 . . . Q.N-Q.2 1 0 P-N5 N-K I 1 1 P-1l5 P-B3 I 2 P X NP IlP X P,
Keller-Reitz, Correspondence ;
(b) 9 . . . N-R3 1 0 B-KN5 N-B2 1 1 P-B3 P-KIl3 1 2 B-KB4 P-J04.
1 3 N-R3 P--Q.N4, Prof. Schafer-Lipiniks, Correspondence;
(c) 9 ... R-KI 1 0 P-B3 P--Q.R3 I f P-R4 Q.N--Q.2 1 2 P-KIl5 N-K4
1 3 N-R3 R-N I

14 N-B2 P--Q.N4

1 7 B-K2 Il-N5

1 8 p X P BP X P

1 5 P X Q.NP RP X P
1 9 P-N5 N-R4,

16 B X P B--Q.2

Harlamov-Kogan,

Vilna 1 966 ;
and in all cases Black's counter-attack was beginning to dominate.

Avoiding the Modern Benoni

In this section we discuss some of the possible alternatives for both
side:! in the moves leading up to diagram I .

(i) The Hypel'llloclern BenoDi

I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-84 3 P-Q.s P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 P xP
S P x P P-KN3
This challenging continuation is mainly of psychological value, since
White, by playing 6 P-K4, may force Black back into the main lines,

57
W

Avoiding till Modma Bmtmi

79

for he cannot allow p-x5 and so he must play . . . P-Q.3 at once. How
ever, if Black fean the fianchetto variation or the knight's tour attack
he may prefer this move order since White cannot transpose into those
particular lines.
The Hypermodern Benoni preserves its own character in only two
distinct cases. Firstly, White may try to refute Black's play with 6 P
Q.6( !), and this does indeed look very promising; and secondly, White
may still adopt the knight's tour plan of establishing his king's knight
at Q.B4. With the Black pawn not yet on Q.3, however, this loses much
of its point.

(a) 6 P-Q6 ( !) Q-N3

This is the crucial continuation. In the game van den Berg-Nievergelt,
Berlin 1965, Black continued 6
B-N2 ? ! hoping to attack White's
centre later; but the ensuing play showed that this is too optimistiC!
7 P-X4 N-B3 8 P-B4 0-0 9 P-X5 N-XI 1 0 N-B3 P-Q.N4 1 1 B X P
Q;-N3 1 2 0-0 N-Q.5 1 3 B-B4 with a clear advantage to White.
. .

7 B-NS

This was Tal's suggestion to justify 6 p-Q.6, but also the simple 7 B-B4
seems sufficient to maintain a plus. Euwe's "Archives" suggest the
following possibilities : 7 . . . B-N2 8 Q;-Q.2 or 7 . . . Q.XNP ? 8 B-x5.

..

N-14

7 . . . B-N2

I ...

P-B3

I N-B3

Q;-Q.2 leaves White in a dominating position.

Other moves are worse : 8 . . . Q.x Q.p ? 9 Q.x Q. B X Q. 1 0 N-Q.N5 ; or

8 . . . B X P 9 N-Q.5 Q;-R4 ch (9 . . . Q. x P ? IQ P-N4 N-N2 1 1 B-B6)
1 0 B-Q.2 Q;-Q. I I I B-B3 ; or 8 . . . P-xR3 9 B-x7 1, and in all cases
White's position is overwhelming. (Analysis from "Archives".)

80

Th4 Modem Bmtmi

9 K3

B xP

Now after 10 N-Q.s Q.I I I N3 Black's position is very pr

carious and White-has more than sufficent compensation for the pawrl .

(b) 6 N-B3 B-N2 ( from diagram 57)

7 N-Q.lI
8 N-B4

0-0

P-N3

It should be mentioned here that this line is really of most significance

in the case where the early moves were I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-K3
and then White, perhaps fearing a Nimzo-Indian, plays 3 N-KB3 and
after 3 . . . P-1I4 4 P-Q.S. Then after 4 . . . P X P 5 P XP P-KN3 it is no
longer good to play p-Q.6 and Black is qui,ejustified in delaying . P-Q.3.
Of course, Black may, if he wishes, play 8 . . P-Q.3 here transposing
to the knight's tour attack.
. .

59

9 N5

Weak is 9 p-K3 ? as in Boleslavsky-Tal, 23rd U S S R Championship 1956,

which continued 9 . . . P-Q.3 10 B-K2 B-Q.R3 I I P-Q.R4 B x N 1 2 B X B
Q.N-Q.2 1 3 0-0 R-K I 14 Q;-B 2 Q.-K2 1 5 R-NI N-N5 with advantage
to Black.
Suetin's suggestion of 9 B B4 deserves consideration.
P-KR:J
9.
-

lo 14
P-K3

B R3

11

1 1 Q.-R4 ? P-KN4 1 2 B-N3 P-N4 1 3 N X P N X P is good for Black.

Szilagyi-Cholmov, Moscow '963.
The position now is somewhat unclear ; Donner-Perez, Bognor 1 955,
continued I I . . . P-Q.N4 1 2 N-Q.6 when the critical line is 1 2 . . . P--N5
1 3 B X B P X N 14 B-N7 p X P 1 5 R-Q.NI Q.-N3 J 6 B X R Q.XN with

Avoiding tlu-Modern Bmoni

81

complications. "Archives" suggest that Black may improve his pros

pects in this line by delaying . . . P-KR3, for with the White bishop still
on KN5 the threat of . . . N-K5 can be awkward for White.

(ii) The ModeI'D Benom Declined

Here we give a brief survey of the results of White averting the Modem
Benoni by choosing different continuations at moves 3 or 4.

(a)

P-Q4 N-KBg 2 P-QB4 P-B4 g P-Q5 P-K,:;

4 Px P ? !
I

This is a somewhat anti-positional line which surrenders White's

spatial advantage for no apparent reason. White has a faint hope of
tactical chances, but apart from the shock value inherent in any weak
opening line, the variation has no real worth. The game FoguelDlan-Mecking, Buenos Aires 1 967, continued 4 . . . BP X P (4 . . . Q.P x p leads
to complete equality) 5 B-N5 P-Q.4 ! ? (5 . . . P-Q.3 followed by . . . B-K2
and . . . N-B3 is solid and good) 6 P-K4 P-KR3 7 B X N Q. X B 8 BP X P P X P
9 p X P B-Q.3 1 0 B-N5 ch ? ( 1 0 N-Q.B3 0-0 I I N-B3 is better) N-Q.2
I I N-Q.B3 0-0 I 2 N-B3 N-K4 1 3 B-K2 NX N ch 14 B X N B-Q.2
15 Q.-B2 Q.R-K I ch 1 6 B-K4 B-B4 I 7 P-B3 Q.-P.5 ch 1 8 K-K2 P-Q.N4 !
1 9 P-KN3 Q.-R4 20 K-Q.2 B X B 2 1 N X B Q. X Q.P ch 22 K-K2 Q.-R4
23 F-KN4 Q.-R6 24 Q.R-KB I R X p ! 25 Resigns.

(b) I P-Q4 N-KBg

2 P-QB4 P-B4

g N-KBg

This line is quite harmless and is often an indication that White is

satisfied with a draw. After 3 . . . P x P 4 N x P a variation of the
English opening is reached in which Black has a number of clear
equalising methods. We give some typical examples :
(i) 4 . . . P-K3 S P-KN3 P -Q.4 6 B-N2 P-K4 7 N-KB3 (7 N-B2 P-Q.5
and 7 N-N3 P-Q.5 are also quite satifactory for Black) P-Q.5 ! 8 0-0
N-B3 9 P-K3 (9 P-Q.N4 is met by 9 ' " p-K5 ! with better chances for
Black) B-K2 l O P X P P x P and Black has a perfectly free and playable
position.
(ii) 4 . . . P-K3 S N-Q.B3 B-N5 (5 . . . N-B3 is less satisfactory)
and now :
(a) 6 N-NS P-Q.4 ! 7 B-B4 o-o ! when 2 N-B7 ? fails to 8 . . . N-R4.
(b) 6 B-Q.2 N-B3 7 N-B2 B-K2 8 P-K4 (8 p-KN3 ? P-Q.4 9 B-N2

Sa

TM MfHIma Bmtmi

1 0 N-K2 N2 ! 1= , Prins-Barcza, Venice 1949) 0-0 9 B-K2

P-Q.N3 1 0 0-0 B-N2 I I B-B4 R-B I 1 2 N-K3 I'--Q3 with equal chances,
Sajtar-Stahlberg, Prague 1 954.
(c) 6 P-K3 N-K5 ! is already better for Black, Reshevsky-Fischer,
Palma 1 970.
(d) 6 N-h B x N ch 7 P x B Q;-R4 8 Q:-Q.3 N-B3 9 B-R3 as in Ivkov
Fischer, Vinkovci I 96g , and now 9
P-Q.4 ! 10 P-K3 P-K4 gives
.

Black the advantage according to Fischer.

Annotated Games
J . White :

Stet.ko

Black :

Bangiye

Played in the Championship of the Soviet Navy

197 1 .

Apart from demonstrating the strength of the Soviet Navy, this game
gives a good demonstration of some recent possibilities discovered for
Black to counter the fianchetto variation.

I P-(U N-KB3 a P-Q.B4 P-Ilf 3 P-Q.s P-K3 4 N-Q,B3 P x P

5 P x P P-(b 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 P-KN3 B-Na 8 B-Na 0-0 9 0-0

P-Q.R3

This move has been the most popular in the early seventies, though
as we have seen Black has several reliable alternatives.

10 P-Q.J4 Q.N-Q.a 1 1 N-Q.a

U S S R 1 969, White concocted an
I I R-KI R-N I 12 R-N I ? !
Q;-B2 1 3 B2 N-N5 ! 1 4 Q;-B2 P-B5 1 5 P-N4, but after 1 5
P x P e.p.
16 Q. x Q.NP N-B4 1 7 Q;-R3 R-K I Black had a fine position. Korchnoi
continued 1 8 P-R5 when Black missed the win of a pawn with 1 8
N x BP ! 1 9 K x N B X N followed
by . . . N-K5 ch.
.
In the game Korchnoi-Kapengut,

unusual plan of queen's side operations with

. .

11

R-KI la N-B4

1 2 P-KR3, the game Osnos-Tal, U S S R Ch. 1 969, continued

12
N-R4 13 N(Q.2)-K4 ? Q.N-B3 14 N X N ch N X N 1 5 B-B4 R-N I
1 6 Q:-Q.3 Q;-K2 1 7 P-K4 N-R4 1 8 B2 Q;-K4 ! and Black's control of the

After

dark squares gave him excellent attacking prospects.

la

. ..

N-Kf 13 N-R3 N-1l4 14 P-R3

As usual White wants to play P-B4 without allowing the black knight
to advance to

14

P-Ilf

...

KN5.

AMOtated Games

83

This king's side advance is the most radical solution to Black's strategic
problems, though also 1 4 . . . R-N I is possible ; the critical continuation
then is that of the game Marovic-Kapengut, Erevan 197 1 : I S P-K4
( I S K-R2 P-B4 1 6 p-K4 P-KBS ! 1 7 p X P Q- RS 1 8 P X N B X KP ch is too
dangerous for White) I S . . . p-B4 ! 16 P x P B X P 1 7 P-KN4 B x P 1 8
P X B Q--RS 1 9 P X N R-KBI ! ( 1 9 . . . N-NS 20 B-B4 B-K4 2 1 Q--B 3 R-KB I
fails to 22 Q--N3) 20 p-R6 ! B-RI 2 I N-K4 N-NS 22 Q. x N ! Q. x Q. 23
N-B4 and it remains unclear whether White's pieces or Black's queen
should be superior. After 23 . . . P-Q.N4 ! one can scarcely assess the
position as 'equal' though it would be fair to say that the better player
has all the chances.
60
W

IS P-K4
Here too IS K-R2 can be met by I S ' " P-KBS ! 1 6 P x P Q--RS 1 7 P X N
B X KP ch with a ferocious attack.
IS . . . P-Q.N41 16 N-K2
Very tame, but after 1 6 P x NP RP X P I 7 N (B3) x P B-Q.R3 White is in
deep trouble.
16 . . . P x KP 17 B x P B x P 18 B-N2 B-NS 19 P-B3 B-Q.2 20 P
KN4 N x NPl
This blow completes the destruction of the white king's defences and the
rest is just the execution of the naked monarch.
21 P x P B x KNP 22 B-B3 Q.-RS 23 N-B2 B-Kof q R-B2 B x B
2S R x B R-KBI 26 Q.R-R3 P-NS 27 Q.R-K3 Q.-R7 ch 28 K-BI
Q;--RB ch 29 N-NI N-N6 ch 30 K-B2 Q.-R7 ch White resigned.
2. White : DODDer Black : PlaDinc Wijk aan Zee 1973
A new move casts doubt on the Knight's Tour Variation.
I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.S P-K3 4 N--Q. P x P
S P x p P-Q.3 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 N--Q.2 B-N2 8 N-B4 0--0 9 B-Bof
P-N31 ?

84

The Modern Benoni

This blatant disregard of the attack on the Q,P is clearly intended to

challenge White's whole strategy. Actually the move 9 . . . P-N3 had
been suggested before this game by . . . Donner !
IO

BxP

Some players on facing such an innovation would instinctively refrain

from the complications with 1 0 Q,-Q,2 , which may indeed be best. Of
course I O N X Q,p ? is met by 1 0
N-R4.
. .

10 . . . R-KI

1 1 B-N3 N--KSl

la N x N

Mter this White i s always i n difficulties ; perhaps 1 2 R-B I is better,

but I think Black has enough for the pawn in any case. Of course, this
whole conception of sacrificing the Q,P needs further tests before one
can be sure.

la . . . R x N 13 P-K3 P -Q.N4 14 N-Q.6 R-Q.NS IS B x P B-BI !

16 B-B6
1 6 N x B R X B is quite hopeless, but now White's king is fixed in the
centre.

61
B

16 . . . B-Q.R3!

17 B x R

Also 1 7 Q,-Q.2 B x N 1 8 1! x B
should win for Black.

Q. x

B 1 9 B x R N-Q.2 followed by . . . N-K4

17 . . . R x P 18 Q.-llf: Q.-BS I9 R-Q.BI B x N ao P-B4 Q.-B4 al

P-K4 R-K7 ch aa K-Q.I Q.-llf: White resigned.
3. White : Radev Black : Padevsky, Bulgarian Championship 1 970
A cautionary tale from the realms of Uhlmann's Line :

I P-Q.4 N-U3 a P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.S P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 P x P

S P x P P-Q.3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-Na 8 B-KNS P-KR3
9 B-llf: P-KNf 10 B-N3 N-llf: 1 1 B-NS ch K-BI 12 B-K2 N x B
13 BP x Nl ?
We have seen that 1 3 R P x N promises nothing for White, but really
this should be worse ! A recent horrible example of 1 3 RP X N was the

Annotated Games

85

game Bobotsov-Kaplan, Siegen 1 970, which continued 1 3 . . . N-Q.2

1 4 N-Q.2 Q-K2 I S P--KN4 ? P-R3 1 6 P-R4 B-Q.S ! 1 7 0-0 ? ? N-B3 1 8 N-B4
1 9 P x P P-NS 20 N-K3 N x RP 2 1 B X NP Q-RS 22 P-KN 3 N x P

P-KR4 !

x R 24 K x N B X N (K6) White resigned.

13 . . . N-Q.2 14 0-0 Q.-IU 15 B2 P-R3 16 P-Q.R.f P-KIlf
17 N-Q.I N-K.f 18 R-R3 N-N3 ?

23 K-N2 N

Black thinkS that the central position will take care of itself while he
attacks on the king's side, but he has an unpleasant shock awaiting him
in another five moves. The right method was demonstrated in the game
F . Portisch-Timoshhenko, Vilnyus 1 969, where Black played 1 8 . . .
B--Q2 securing the better prospects after 1 9 N X N B X N 2 0 N-K3 B--Q.S
2 1 K-R I R-K I

22 N-B4 K-N2.

19 N-K3 P-N5 20 N-R.f

An excellent pawn sacrifice, which is merely the prelude to another

which exposes the black ki ng.

20 . . . N x N

21 P x N Q. x RP

N-B4 Q.-K2

23 P-K5 !

After this typical thrust White's pieces rush in and Black is helpless
despite his extra material.

23 . , . B x P 24 N x B Q. x N 25 Q-N6 Q.-K2

26 K-RI !

Threatening to tie BIck up still further with 2 7 R-K3 .

26 . . . P-B4 27 B-Q.3 KB2 28 Q. x Q.P ch Q.-K2 29 Q.-KN6 Q.

KB2 30 Q.-N6 Q. x P 31 Q.-KB6 ch K-N I 32 Q.-N6 ch K- BI 33

B x BP resigns.

Fi.,,,:... 3rd Match Game 1 972

After Fischer's default in the second game, the chess world waited for
this encounter in a unique state of tension for all concerned. The game
was eventually played in a secluded room where Fischer, having spent
most of the day booking himself on and off various flights out of
Reykjavik, produced the following splendid achievement :
. JXhi.;_p'y,--. BI(ic :
__

I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B.f P-K3 3 N-KB3 P-B4 4 P-Q.5 P x P

5 P X P P-Q.3 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 N-Q.2 Q.N-Q.2 8 P-K.f B-N2
9 B-K2 0-0 10 0-0 R-KI
Mter a curious movelOrder, we are back in the Main Line with
Fischer adopting the formation with . . . Q.N-Q.2 instead of the fashionable
.
.

N-R3

I I Q.-B2
The main alternative is I I P-Q.R4 with the following possibilities :
(a) I ! . . . N-K4 1 2 Q-B2 P-KN4 1 3 N-B4 ! (Better than the 1 3 N-B3
of Gligoric-Fischer, Palma 1 970) 1 3 . . . N x N 1 4 B x N N-NS I S N-K2 !
P--QR3 1 6 R-R3 Q-K2 1 7 R-KN3 ! P-R3 1 8 P-B4, Najdorf-Ree, Wijk

The Modem Bmoni

86

aan Zee 1 97 1 , with a clear advantage to White, though he lost

eventually.
(b) 1 1
P-Q.R3 1 2 p-B4 ! ? ( 1 2 Q-B2, 1 2 P-RS or 1 2 P-B3 are safer
continuations) 12
P-BS ! 1 3 P-KS ! ( 1 3 N X P N x KP gives White
nothing, while 1 3 B x P gives Black the choice between 1 3
N-B4
and 1 3
Q-N3 ch 14 K-R l Q;-QS ! with excellent play in either case.)
1 3 . . . p X P 14 N X P N-N3 ! IS P x P N-NS ! 1 6 N-Q.6 ! B X P ! 17 N X R
Q-RS ! ( 1 7 . . . B x P ch 1 8 K-R l Q-RS 19 B-KNS ! led to a win for White
in the game Gligoric-Nicevsky, Zagreb 1 970) 1 8 P-R3 Q-N6 19 B x N
Q-R7 ch 20 K-B2 Q-N6 ch 2 1 K-N l (2 1 K-K2 B X B ch 22 P X B R X N
leaves White's king in a death trap) 2 1
Q-R7 ch 22 K-B2 Q-N6 ch
drawn ; Popov-Spassov, Bulgarian Ch. 1 972.

. .

. .

. .

11 . . .

N-141?

With this bold move Black sacrifices his pawn formation for active
play and attacking chances. 1 1 . . . N-K4 and 1 1
P-Q.R3 are the less
imaginative alternatives to Fischer's imaginative idea.
I B x N P x B 13 N-B4
. .

"
B

It is doubtful whether this natural move is correct. Mter 1 3 P-Q.R4( !)

N-K4 14 N-Q.I Q-RS IS N-K3 White has better chances to retain the
advantage ; the game Gligoric-Kavalek, Skopje 1972, continued
I S . . , N-NS 1 6 N x N P X N I 7 N-B4 Q-B3 1 8 B-Q.2 Q-N3 1 9 B-B3 B x B
20 P X B with a clear plus for White ; there followed 20
P-N3 2 I KR
KI B-R3 22 N-Q.2 R-14 23 P-KB4 P x P e.p. 24 N x P R-R4 2S Q-KB2
Q-B3 26 R-K3 R-KI 27 Q.R-KI Q-BS 28 P-KS ! P x P 29 R-K4 <,CB3
30 Q-N3 ch K-R I 3 1 N X P R-KN I 32 R-KN4 R x R 33 N x R Q-N3 34
P-B4 R-B4 35 N-R6 ! R-B3 36 R-K8 ch K-N2 37 R-N8 ch K x N 38
Q-R4 ch resigns. In a later game at San Antonio 1972 against Browne,
Gligoric scored another victory with this plan, so Fischer's I I
N-R4
must be considered a little dubious_until something mor-e is found.
13 . N-14 14 N-K3 Q.-RS 15 B-Q.II N-NS 16 N x N
. .

. .

Annotated Games

87

After this White is in trouble, bun 6 P--KR.3 N x N 17 B x N gives Black

the choice between :
(a) 1 7 . . . B x N ? 1 8 Q. x B Q. x KP 1 9 Q.R-K I when White has good play
for the pawn.
(b) 1 7 . . . B X P ! ? 1 8 p x B Q. X RP with the threat of . . . K-R I and a
quick mate on the knight's file. 1 9 P-B3 is met by 1 9 . . . B-Q.S ! 20 B X B
P X B again threatening . . . K-R I as well as . . . P x N.
(c) 1 7 . . . B-Q.2 is completely satisfactory.

16 . . . P x N 17 B-B4 Q.-B3
Compare this position with that of Gligoric-Kavalek above ; White's
knight on QB3 is very passively placed compared with Gligoric's
on B4.

18 P-KN3?
1 8 B-N3 is far superior since 1 8 . . . p-KR4 ? is met by 1 9 N-NS.

18 . . . B-Q.2 i9 P-Q.R4 P-N3 20 KR-KI P-Q.R3 21 R-K2 P-N4!

Black has quietly prepared this advance, and now he slowly gains
complete control and reduces White to aimless wandering to and fro

22 Q.R-KI Q.-N3 !
This prevents P-KS and prepares for the eventual win of the White KP.
23 P-N3 R-K2 24 Q.-Q.3 R-NI 25 P x P P x P ri P-N4 P-BS

2 7 Q.-Q.2 Q.R-KI 28 R-K3 P-R4 29 R(3)-K2 K-IU 30 R-K3

K-NI 31 R(3)-K2 B x N 32 Q. x B R x P 33 R x R R x R 34 R x R
Q. x R 35 B-R6 Q.-N3 36 B-BI Q.-N8 37 K-BI B-B4 38 K-K2
Q.-KS ch. 39 Q.-K3 Q.-B7 ch 40 Q.-Q.2 Q.-N6 41 Q.-Q.4
41 K-KI might have given some drawing chances according to Spassky,

but I think the position should still be lost. 41 . . . B-Q,6 ch and White
J'esigned ; after 42 K-K3 Q.-Q.8 Black wins very quickly.
S. White : GUgoric Black : Minic Yugoslavia 1 9 72
Games like this one often make me feel that Gligoric is not the right
opp:ment to choose if one wants to play the Modern Benoni, though
some people seem able to get way with it.

I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.5 P-K3 4 N-Q.B3 P x P

S P x P P-Q.3 6 P-Kf P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2 8 B-K2 0-0 9 0-0
R-KI 10 N-Q,2 N-R3 11 P-B3 N-B2 12 P-Q,R4 N-Q,2 13 K-RI
1 3 N-B4 was once popular here but suffered a serious blow in the game
Toth-Matulovic, Hungary 1 972 : 1 3 . . . N-K4 14 N-K3 P-B4 IS P-B4
N-B2 1 6 P x P N-KR3 ! ! 1 7 P x P (Otherwise Black recaptures on . . . KB4
with the knight keepirlg a very active position) 1 7 . . . B-Q.S ! (The point
of Matulovic's new idea) 1 8 P x P ch K-R I 1 9 R-B3 N-NS 20 Q.-Q.3
Q.-RS. Black already has a winning position, there followed 2 I P-R3

88 , Till Modern Benoni

N x N 2 2 R x N Q. x BP 23 N-Q.I N x P 24 R R3 N x R 2 5 'N x N B-B4
26 Q-N3 B x P (R2) 2 7 K R I B-K4 2 8 K-N I Q-R7 ch 29 K-B 2 B-N6 ch
30 K-B3 B-K5 ch 3 1 K-N4 R-N I ch White resigned_
13 . . . P-N3 14 N-B4 N-14 IS N-K3 R-NI 16 B-Q,,I!
The immediate 1 6 P-B4 is less ood : 1 6 . . . N--Q.2 1 7 N-B 4 N-B3 1 8
,P-K5 ( 1 8 B-B3 is met by 1 8 . . . B-Q.R3 ) 1 8 . . . p x p 1 9 p-Q.6 N-K3 20 P X P
N-Q.2 2 1 N-Q.5 N x p ! 2 2 N-K7 ch R x N 2 3 P x R Q. x P with the better
'
game for Black ; Platonov-Savon, 38th U S S R Ch. 1 970.
\
16 . . . P-Q,R3 17 P-B4!
-

--

Now is the right moment for this move. White played less forcefully

1 972, with 1 7 R-Q.N I

P N X NP 1 9 N x N P X N 20 P Q.N4 P-B5 2 1 Q-B I R-R I

in the game Bukic-Adorjan, Vrnjacka Banja

P-Q.N4 1 8 P

with good play for Black.

17

_ .

N-Q, 18 N-B4 N-B3 19 B-B3!

Q.R3
19 . . P-KI4 o N x Q,P! Q, x N 21 P-KS Q,-Q,I P-Q,6 N-K3
3 P x N B x P 4 P-BS! P x P

Now this move can no longer be met by . . . B

White's combination has resulted in a favourable opening of the

position and Black's king is in great danger.

S B-B6 R-BI ' 6 R x P N-Q,S 7 R x RP Q, x P

2 7 . . . N x B ? loses at once to 28 Q.-B 2 .
8 B-Q,S B-B4 9 R x B ! N x R 30 Q,-N4 ch N-N 31 N-K4 Q,-Q,I
3 R-KBI B-K4 33 B-B3 resigns (33 . . . Q. X B 34 N-B6 ch ! ) .
6.

White :

Spassky

Black :

Savon

Moscow

1971

This confirms the dangers to Black i n the pawn storm line with

B -N 5 ch.

Note that when Spassky met Fischer's Modern Benoni

KB3,

his knight was already committed to

so this strong attacking

variation was not available.

I P-Q,4 N-KB3 P-Q,B4 P-B4 3 P-Q,S P-K3 4 N-Q,B3 P x P

S P x P P-Q,3 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 P-B4 B-N 8 B-NS ch KN-Q,
I n a five-minute game against Reshevsky, Tal tried 8 . . . Q.N-Q.2 ? !
Apparently his intention was to reply to 9 P-K5 with 9 . : P x P l O P X P
N-R4 I I p-K6 P x P 1 2 P X P o-o ! when 1 3 P x N B X N ch 1 4 P x B
Q.-R5 ch is extremely hazardous for White. Howevr, after the simple
1 3 N B3 ! White gains a clear advantage.
9 B-Q,3
The late grandmaster Alexander Zaitscv preferred 9 P-Q.R4, for
example 9 . . . 0-0 1 0 ,,-B3 R-K I ( l O . . N -R3 1 1 0-0 N-N 5 1 2 B-K3
P-Q.R3 1 3 B-B4 R N I 1 4 P-R3 R-K I 1 5 B-H2 gave White a good game
in Zaitsev-Gufeld, Debrecen 1 9 70)
I I 0-0 P-Q,R3
1 2 B-K2 N-B I
,

Annotated Garms 89
14 D-Q,2 with some advantage to White ; Zaitsev
1 3 P-R3 Q,N-Q,2
Radev, Albena 1 970.
9 . . 0--0 10 N-B3 N-R3 I J 0--0 R-NI 12 K-RI N-B2 13 P-Q,R4
P-Q,R3 14 P-BS
At first sight this move creates an ugly i mpression, but it opens up
.

excellent prospects for White's Q,B.

14 . . . P-Q,N4 is RP x P N x NP 16 B-NS P-B3 17 B-KB4 N-

18 P-R3 R-B2 19 P-KN4 B-BI 20 R-h
Black's handling of the queen's side pawns has left him with a static
formation and little prospect of active play.

Spassky now begins

regrouping his pieces to secure maximum attacking prospects on both

wings.

20 . . , N-Q,S 21 N X N(Q,4) P x N 22 N-K2 R-N5 23 N-BI Q.-N3 24

R-B2 P-Q,14 25 R-B2 R-B2 26 B-Q,2 N x B 27 N x N R-N4 28
R x R Q, x R 29 Q,-R4 B-Q,2 30 Q,xQ,P Q,-B7 31 B- B3 ! Q,-K7 32
R-RI B-K2 33 R-KI Q,-B6 ch 34 K-R2 R-NI 35 R-K3 Q,-B8
36 R-N3 P-N4 and Black resigned.
He is already one pawn down with the Q,RP facing the firing sq uad'
whenever White wishes ; his position is quite hopeless.
7. White : Vaganian

Black : Tal

39th

U S S R Ch. 1 9 7 1

Recently a handful of players have been experimenting again with

lines with B-KB4 for White. Here we see Tal demonstrating his faith
and ability in this opening, and showing some of Black's resources
against this treatment.

I P-Q4 N-KB3 2 P-QB4 P-K3 3 N-KB3 P-B4 4 P-Qs P x P

5 P x P P-KN3 6 N-B3 B-N2 7 B -B4 P-QR3
7 . . , P-Q,3 allows

Q-R4 ch B - Q,2

9 Q-N3 Q,-B 2

1 0 P-K4, which B lack

players have been avoiding since Portisch-Fischer, Palma 1 9 70, where

90

The Modern Benoni

I I B-K2 P-Q,R3 1 2 P-KS P X P 1 3 B x KP Q-B I 1 4

after 1 0
Black was in trouble. A clear advantage for White against I I
P
Q,N4 ! ? here has yet to be demonstrated, though the whole line looks
a bit suspect for Black. The very latest news of this line also gives Black
little cheer ; from the last round of San Antonio 1972, Portisch-Larsen
went I I . . . N-R4 12 B-K3 N-R3 1 3 N-Q,2 p-B4 ? ! 14 P x P P x P I S
B X KN P-KBS 1 6 0-0 P X B 1 7 p X P N-NS 1 8 N (B3) -K4 P-R4 1 9 N
N5 P-RS 20 Q-B4 P-R3 2 I N-K6 B x N 22 P X B P-Q,4 23 B-B7 ch K-RI
24 Q-R4 Q-J4 2S N-B3 Q, x P ch 26 K-R I N-Q,6 27 Q,R-KI ! N X R 28
R x N Q-Q,6 29 Q-RS p-R6 30 P-Q,N3 B-B6 3 1 P-K7 K-N2 32 P X R = Q, ch
R x Q, 33 B x P B X R 34 Q,-KS ch R-B3 3S Q-K7 ch resigns.
8 "-Kt 0--0 9 B-K2 P-Q,3 10 P-Q.R4
After a devious order of moves we are back in a fairly normal position
for the B-KB4 variation.
10 . . . B-N5 I I P-R3
This move does not promise much and I I 0-0 is probably better, for
example the game Korchnoi-Minic, Erevan 1 97 1 , continued I I . . . R
K I ( 1 1 . . . N-B4 is better) 1 2 N-Q,2 B X B 1 3 Q, X B N-R4 14 B-K3 P-N3
I S P-KN4 ! N-KB3 1 6 B-B4 with advantage to White.
II . . . B x N 12 B x B Q.-B2 13 0--0 Q.N-Q.2 14 P-R5
Uhlmann-Portisch, Hastings 1970- 1 , continued 1 4 Q,-B2 P-BS ! I S B
K2 KR-K I 1 6 KR-K I R-K2 1 7 Q,R-Q,I Q,R-N I 1 8 P-RS Q,R-K I ! 1 9 R-Q,4
Q, x P 20 B X Q,P R X p ! 2 I R (Q,4)-Q,1 Q-N3 ! 22 N X R N X N with very
good chances for Black.
14 . . . KR-KI 15 Q.-Q.2 ? !
It i s too early to commit the queen t o this diagonal ; White plays for
a king's side attack which is never really there.
15 . . . Q.R-BI 16 P-KN4 R-K2 1 7 KR-KI N-K I 18 B-N2 R-NI
19 B-N5 B-B3!?
. . .

. .

Annotated Ga1l1ls

91

Many players would not take this risk and prefer 19

R-K4 20 B-B4
R-K2 with repetition of moves, but not Tal !
20 B x B N (KI) X B 21 P-Bf P-BS 22 K-RI N-KI 23 R-:-Rf P-Q.Nf
(see diagram 64) . Black has delayed these thematic que en's side moves
until they are most effective. White's pieces do not stand well to meet
the pressure on the QN file.
2.f P x P e.p. R x NP 2S KR-RI Q.-N I 26 R( I )-R2 N-Bf 21
R x BP KR-N2 28 P-KS!
At last White counters in the centre and the position rapidly becomes
critical.
2B
R x P 29 R x R R x R 30 Q.-Q.f?
30 Q-K3 ! is correct since 30
Q-N6 is met by 3 I P X P Q x R 32 Q X N(KS)
ch with a draw.
30 . . . R-Q.B7 31 P x P Q.-N7 32 P-Q.7
It is too late for 32 Q-K5 since Black plays 32
N X p ! 33 QX N R X B
winning.
:J2 . . N x P 33 R-BB R x B White resigned.
..

. . .

..

. .

2.

The Czech Benoni

94

TIr4 C(.Ich Bmmai

With the exception of the Modern Benoni, which is perhaps too pre

carious for the average taste, the most popular Benoni system currently
is that introduced by the moves I P-<U N-KB, 2 P-Q.Bof P-8.f
, P-Q.5 P-Kf of N-Q.B, P-Q3 - 5 P-Kf IU
65
W

Until recently this line was considered too passive, since it was thought
that the bishop on K2 was not well placed to facilitate the natural
advance . . . P-KB4. It seemed that the development plan of . . . P-KN3
and . . . B-N2 was better designed for this purpose. In recent years,
however, games by the leading young Czech players (particularly
Hort, Kavalek and Jansa) have shown that much may be gained by
placing the bishop on K2 at this stage. The possibility of exchanging
the 'bad' bishop by means of . . . B-KN4 is perhaps the most common
thematic idea, and dealing with this positional threat is one of the
problems with which White is faced.
On the minus side, Black must take into account the increased
difficulty in preparing . . . P-KB4, since this is the natural method of
freeing his position. If this is to be effective, Black needs to play a
preliminary . . . P-KN3, since he must be ready to recapture on his KB4
with a pawn. Here the drawback of . . . B-K2 is felt, since . . . P-KN3
appears to weaken the Black squares seriously

if there

is no bishop on

KN2. But if the bishop is elsewhere, then why not let the knight perform

its duties ? Mter castling, Black wishes to move his king's knight to
free the KB-pawn, and also to threaten . . . B-KN4 in some circumstances ;
the natural squares for it to occupy are K I or KR4, and from either of
these it is keeping a watchful eye on the important KN2.
This plan may sound very slow and tortuous, but it is justified by
the blocked nature of the central position which makes it difficult for
White to organise an effective break-through while Black is carrying
out his manoeuvres.
Whie has a large variety of plans from which to choose while Black

Tire Cl:,tch Bnwni

95

is preparing . . . P-KB4. The most common attacking ideas involve either

early P-Q.N4 in an attempt to gain space on the queen's side and to

open the queen's knight's file, or alternatively a quick advance of the
king's side pawns to anticipate Black's . . . P-KN3 which may then
become the means of an attack on the Black king.
To see how these ideas work out in practice, it will be helpful to
study some examples from master play, which provide good illustra
tions of what both sides should aim for, and may also serve as warnings
of what must be avoided.
an

66
W

Diagram 66 shows the position after 1 6 moves in the game Savon

Hort, Orebro 1 966. White has played to prevent . . . P-KB4 and has
succeeded in rendering this advance impossible for the time being.
Black has just completed the trip with his queen's knight via Q,2
and KB3 to KN I to expel the White bishop from its threatening
post. The queen's side pawn position has become blocked by
mutual consent,. each player having been more concerned with

67

preventing the opponent's P-Q.N4 than with executing this advance

himself. The chances of both players are approximately even, since it is
very difficult for White to develop any attack without allowing Black

96

The

C(.ech Benoni

to seize the initiative with . . . P-B4. The players, in fact, shortly agreed
to a dra iV.
In diagram 67 we see the same type of position, but here White's plan
has failed completely. This was reached in the game Pachman
Cioca1tea, Harrachov 1966, after Black's 19th move. Here Black had
gained the initiati.ve on the queen's side with a timely . . . P-Q.N4 and
now has broken through with . . .P-KB4 also. The position of the White
king is now very exposed and Black has a clear advantage.
68
W

Diagram 68, on the other hand, shows the result of inaccurate play on
Black's part. The position was reached after Black's fifteenth move in
the game Radev-Kirov, Bulgarian Championship 1 966 . White played
a very early P-KR4 in anticipation of Black's . : . P-KN3. Black then un
wisely refrained from playing this move, thereby allowing White to
post a knight at KB5 where it was exchanged f<?r a bishop. Black's pre
occupation with play on the queen's side has allowed his opponent a
free hand on the other wing, where White quickly broke through with
a decisive attack.

6g

finally, diagram 69 shows the situation after 1 7 moves of the game _

UhlmannVasiukov, Hastings 1 965-6.- Most of the play so far has

TM C,," Bmtmi

97

taken place on the queen's side : White has played N4 which was
answered with . . . N3. The subsequent exchange of pawns

has left

the queen's knight's file in White's control, though the placings of

Black's pieces deny White any entry. This shows another aspect of the

K2 in the
Q. J and eventually R4 under circumstances such as

variation in that the Black king's bishop is well placed at

opening, to go to

these. The chances here are even.

We now proceed to examine the variations in detail.

A. White develops his bishop on K2 and

knight on K.B3
This natural system of development is one of the most popular, and

il\ustrates well the difficulties facing both sides. It does, perhaps, pose
Black with too few direct problems for White to entertain great hopes
of an advantage, though Black must play with accuracy to avoid obtain

ing a passive position.

From diagram 65 :

6 N-B3
, B-IU
8 0--0

0--0

N-KI

8 P-Q.R3, against which Black should play

N-Q.2 when 9 0-0 transposes into lines considered below. Less
accurate is 8
P-KN3 which allows White to build up a strong attack

Also played here often is

. . .

. . .

70

with

9 B-R6 N-N2 1 0 P-KR4 ! as occurred in the game Malich-Cobo,

1 966. There followed 10 . . . P-B3 II P-R5 P-KN4 1 2 N-Q.2

Havana

gO

TM CI;,Qa Bmmd

N-1l3

1 3 B-N4 N-Bll

White.
8 .. .

1 5 P-U4 with advantage to

1 4 B X B Q. X B

N-Q..

This is more flexible lhan an immediate

...

P-KN3, though

that move

is also popular and well-playable. For example 8 . . . P-KN3

9 B-Jl6

1 0 N-Q.3 B-N4 leads to an easy game for Black, as was

(9 N-KI N-Nll

seen in Pasman-Buslaev, Sochi 1 967, which continued 1 1 P-Q.1l3 P-N3

I P-Q.N4 B X B

1 3 .Q X B N-Q.ll

advantage to Black)
1 1 N-KN5 B X N

1 2 Q, X B P-B3

1 5 N-Nll P-B4 with

14 B-Q. I B-1l3

N-N2

1 0 (C-Q,2 N-Q.2

1 1 Q.1l-Q. 1 (after

1 3 N3 K2 Black's position is very

solid, as was shown in the game Bilek-Hort, Varna 1 962, in which

White made no impression on the defence and
move 35. Also 1 1 P-KR.3 K-1l 1
P-B4

1 5 p X P N XBP

1 2 P-1l3 N-B3

a draw was agreed at

1 3 N-KI N-N I

1 966, leads to equal chlinces). 1 1 . . . Il-K I ! ? ( 1 1 . . . N-H3 ?

P XN

12 N XP !

1 3 p-Q.6 is very favourable for White, but 1 1 . . . K-1l 1 and a

waiting policy is a less drastic solution)

P-B4

14 B-K3

I S B-N4 N-B3, as in Pachman-Hort, Harrachov

1 4 N4 P-N3

I II B N-B I

1 3 P-Q.1l3

1 5 NP X P NP X P with chances for both sides,

Gligoric-Ghitescu, Beverwijk 1 967.

9 P-Q.R3 (see

diagram 7 1 ) '

This preparation for queeri's side play is the most accurate continuation

...

at White's disposal. He wishes to play B-1l6 in reply to

P-KN3 and

then to develop the queen on Q.2. Thus 9 P-Q.R3 also serves partly as a
waiting move, hoping for Black to commit himself. Other moves are
less promising:
(a) 9 B-K3 P-KN3
KR4

1 3 P-B3 N-R2

1 0 p-KN4 1 ? N-N2

1 1 K-R I N-B3

1 2 N-Q.2 P

14 R-KN I B-N4 with a free game for Black,

Stahlberg-Averbach, Erevan 1 965.

(b) 9 Bll P-KN3
(12 '"

10 B-R6 N-N2

B-N4 t>qualises more easily)

[ I N-Q.2 P-R3
13 p X P p X P

1 2 P-Q.R3 P-B4
14 P-B4 R-B3 1 ?

1 5 B-N5 R-N3 with complications, Garcia-Gheorghiu, Bucharest 1 966.

(c)

9 N-K I B-N4 1

1 2 P-N3 B X B

10 P-Q.R3 P-KN3

1 3 Q. X B P-B4

I I N-Q.3 ( 1 1 P-Q.N4 P-N3

14 KP X P NP X P

1 5 P-B4 P-K5 led to

good play for Black in Halfdanarsson-Wade, Reykjavik 1 966) B X B

I Q. X B N-N2

1 3 P-B4 p X P

14 Q. x p K2

1 5 Q.R-K I P-B3

1 6 N

H5 N-K I wi,h equal chances, Sanguinetti-Jansa, Lugano 1 968.

(d) 9 P-KN3 P-KN3
1 3 P-Q.R4 B-N4

Jansa, Lugano 1 968.

9 .
10 B-R6

10 N-KI N-N2

14 B X B Q. X B

P-KNS
N-Nst

1 1 N-Q.3 P-B4

I II P-B3 P-Q.1l3

1 5 P-B4 K2 with equality, Lombardy

The C;;ee!& Bmoni

99

71
B

1 1 Q--Q.2
This is most accurate since it effectively prevents I I
P-B4 in view
of the reply 1 2 P X P P X P 1 3 N-KN5 with a very dangerous attack.
I I P-Q,N4 P-B4 led to advantage for Black in the game Malich-Jansa,
Harrachov 1 966, which continued 1 2 R-N I P-N3 1 3 Q;-Q2 P-B5
1 4 Q,-Q, I P-KN4 1 5 N-Q,2 R-B3 ! 1 6 B X N ( 1 6 B X P R-N3 gives Black a
strong attack) K x B 1 7 B-N4 P-KR4 ? ! 1 8 B X P R-R3 1 9 B-N4 N -B3
with good compensation for the sacrificed pawn.

72
B

JI . . .
N-B3
An interesting and very solid idea here is to leave the knight on Q,2
until completing the defences on the queen's side. For example the
game Uhlmann-Vasiukov, Hastings 1 965-6, continued I I . . . K-R I
1 2 P-Q,N4 P-N3 1 3 KR-Q, I P-R3 1 4 R-N I R-R2 1 5 R-N2 K I !
1 6 p X P NP X P 1 7 KR-N I B-Q. I ! 1 8 B-Q. I B-R4 1 9 B-R4 Q, I
20 Q,-Q,3 N-B3 2 1 B- Q,2 N-N I with equality. Black's position is im
penetrable, since 22 R-N8 only leads to a draw after 22 . . . B-B2 23
R (8 ) -N2 B-R4. If White wishes to try for more against this play he
should hold the tension on the queen's side with 1 6 B-Q. I instead of
1 6 P X P, though this may lead to very double-edged play and Black's
chances should not be worse.

1 00 Th6 CQeIa Bmoni

I. PN4
Slower tactics get White nowhere ; the game Nikitin-Muratov. Kiev
1 965, for example, continued 1 2 N-K I K-RI 1 3 N-Q.3 N-NI 14 B-Kg
P-B4 1 5 P-B3 P-B5 1 6 B-B2 P-JtN4 1 7 P-Q.N4 P-N3 1 8 P-Q.R4
P-Q.R4. and Black's attack on the king's side is more dangerous than
his opponents on the opposite wing.
P-N3
Ill . . .
K-RI
IS N-KI
14 P xP
NP xP
15 P-8.f
Gligoric has suggested 1 5 N-Q.3 here. though it is doubtful whether
White can claim any advantage after 1 5 ' " N-NI followed by . P-B4.
N-Nd
15 . . .
1 5 . . . P x p ? led to great difficulties for Black in the game Malich
Jansa. Havana 1 966, after 1 6 B X P N-Q.2 1 7 N-Q.3 P-N4 1 8 B-N3
P-B4 1 9 P-K5 when White rapidly obtained a decisive advantage.
K xB
16 B x N ch
17 P xP
PxP
The chances in this position are even. The game Malich-Polugaievsky,
Havan 1 966, continued 1 8 N-B3 B-Q.3 1 9 N-Q.N5 N-B3 20 B-Q.3
B-NI 2 I Q.R-NI B-Q.2 22 N-B3 P-Q.R3 23 N-K!l B-Q.3 and White
was completely unable to exploit his passed queen's pawn. The game
was drawn eleven uneventful moves later.
. .

B. White develops his bishop on Qs and

knight on KBS
Recently this system has been very popular for White. Although the
bishop looks rather awkwardly placed on Q.3. with white pawns on K4
and Q.B4 blocking its lines of action, this proves an effective post from
where it hinders Black's freeing plan of . P-KB4, while leaving the
K2-square free for the white queen or queen's knight to enter the attack.
From diagram 65 :
6 N-BS

It is worth mentioning here an unusual idea of the Russian master

Sergievsky, which involves bringing the queen's knight to 1tN3 in the
hope of inducing weaknesses in White's king's side. However, this
appears to be too artificial, as was shown in the game Krogius. .

T1rI C;:;ecla Bmoni 1 0 1

Sergievsky, Sochi 1 966, in which after 6 . Q.N-Q.2 7 B-Q.3 N-B I

8 P-KN3 N-N3 9 P-JtJl4 B-NS 1 0 B-K2 P-KR3 1 1 N-Q.2 B-Q.2 1 2 N
B I B-B I 1 3 N-K3 N-Kg 14 P-R3 P-KR4 1 5 P-B3, Black was left
with a lifeless position.
.

7 B-Q.3

73
B

N-KI
7 ...
It is very difficult to decide what plan Black should adopt here, since
White's formation is extremely flexible. In particular, White will
delay castlir.g until it is clear what the situation demands : whether he
should castle long and pursue an attack on the Black king ; or leave his
own king in the centre and try to increase his spatial advantage on both
wings. Thus Black does best to keep his position as flexible as possible
also, in readiness for whatever White may choose to do. For this reason
7 . . . N-K I is a good non-committal reply. Also good is 7 . . . P-Q.R3,
which is useful in any circumstances, and particularly serves to dissuade
White from castling on the queen's side where he will be subjected, to
an attack with a prompt . . . P-Q,N4. The game Savon-Hort, Orebro
1 966, went 7 . . . P-Q,R3 8 P-KR3 Q,N-Q.2 9 P-Q,R4 N-R4 1 0 N-K2
P-KN3 1 1 P-KN4 N-N2 1 2 N-N3 N-B3 1 3 B-K3 B-Q.2 1 4 2
P-Q,R4 15 B-R6 K-R I 16 Q,-B2 N-N I 17 B-K3 Q,-K I 18 N-Q.2 B-R5
1 9 P-N3, and in this complicated position with about equal chances, a
draw was agreed. Black's most common cause of downfall in this
variation is an excess of passivity. An example of this syndrome is the
game Spassky-Ciocaltea, Beverwijk 1 967, which continued 7 . . . Q,N-Q.2
8 Q,-K2 N-K I (8 . . . N-R4 is more promising) 9 P-KN4 ! (with the Black
Queen's bishop hemmed in, there is no need to prepare this with P-KR3)
P-KN3 1 0 B-R6 N-N2 1 1 0-0-0 N-B3 1 2 P-KR3 P-R3 13 Q,R-N I
B-Q,2 14 N-Q.2 K-R I 1 5 P-KR4 and White already has the makings
of a very powerful attack (see illustrative games) .

102

TJu Czech Bnwni

8 P-KR3
This move is often played at move six or seven, but there is no need
for White to declare his 'intentions so early.
8 ...
P--Q.R3
It is best to lose no time in preparing counterplay on the queen's
wing in anticipation of White's coming attack on the opposite side of
the board. In the game Petkevitch-Vitolinsh, Latvian Championship
1 96 7, Black played an immediate 8 . . . P-KN3 9 B-R6 N-N2 1 0 P-KN4
N-Q.2 I I P-KR4 N-B3 12 N-R2 K-R I 1 3 P-R5, Whi te had some
advantage. Also unsatisfactory in this type o( position is the manoeuvre
8 . . . N-R3 9 B-K3 Q.N-B2 for after 1 0 P-R3 Black has nothing better
than 1 0 . . . P-Q.N3 when the knight on B2 is left misplaced, Krogius
Kotov, R SFSR 1 957.

74
W

9 P-R3
9 P-Q,R4 is a commonly seen alternative, in order to put a stop

to

Black's ambitions on the queen's side, though it does also renounce

White's chances on that wing. The game Ivkov-Janosevic, Sarajevo
1 967, continued 9 . . . P-KN3
N-B3

1 3 N-N3 K-R I

1 6 K-K2 P-N3

1 0 B-R6 N-N2

I I P-KN4 N-Q.2

1 4 R-KN I (or 1 4 Q,-B2 N-N I

1 7 P-N3 Q.-B I

1 8 Q,R-KN I

R-R2

12

N-K2

I S B-Q,2 B-Q.2
1 9 R-N2 Q.-B2

20 B-B3 P-QN4 with an obscure position, Savon-Martens, Harrachov

1 967) N-N I
R-N I

I S B-K3 B-Q,2

1 6 Q-B2 P-QN4

1 7 P-N3 P X RP

18 P XP

1 9 K-K2 with chances for both sides.

Also worth consideration is 9 Q--K2 with the idea of castling queen's

side and continuing with an attack analogous to that of the Spassky
Ghitescu game mentioned in the note to

m ov e

Blad is far bettFr pla c ed to cope wi t11 such

Popoy-Vaskukov in the following :-lote for

resc' lrces in a similar situation .
9 ...

N -Q.2

seven. Here, however,

plan ; cornparc the game

an

exam ple of Black's

The Czech Bmoni 1 03

75
B

P-KN3

10 . . .

This is the usual, and indeed the most natural, move at this point,
but it is by no means clearly the best. A recent idea is to abandon this
attempt at king's side play to concentrate on preparation for

. . . P-Q.N4,

and hoping to take advantage of the black square weaknesses caused

by White's last move. The game Mecking-Matanovic, Sousse

1 967,
1 0 . . . N-B2 I I P-N4 P-QN4 ! 1 2 P X NP RP X P
1 3 B-K3 B-R3 1 4 0-0 Q--N I
1 5 N-Q2 P-B5 1 6 B-K2 N-N3 1 7
Q--B 2 P-R3 1 8 P-QR4 B-N4 with a good game for Black. Another

for example, continued

example is Popov-Vasiukov, Armies

team

championship

Moscow

10 . . . N-B2 I I Q-K2 R-N l

1 2 P-QR4 R-K I
1 968, which went
1 3 B-K3 N-B I 1 4 R-QNI N-N3 1 5 Q-Q2 B-Q2 1 6 P-N4 P X P 1 7
R x P P-QR4 1 8 R-!,, 2 N-R3 1 9 N-QN5 P-QN3 and Black again had
the advantage. Evidently this plan deserves further tests, and may
even cast doubt on White's plan of an early

11
12

B-R6
P-N4

P-KN4.

N-N2

Attempts to pursue an attacking policy on the king's side at once are

somewhat risky, and often rebound disastrously on the aggressor. An
example is the game Pachman-Ciocaltea, Harrachov
after

1 2 Q-Q2 N-B3

1 3 N-K2 K-R I

obtained a very good position with

1 966, in which
1 4 N-N3 N-N I 1 5 B-K3, Black
1 5 . . . P-QN4 ! since 1 6 Px P P x P

1 7 B x P p-B4 ! would leave White's king in grave danger. There followed

1 6 R-QB I P X P 1 7 R X P P-QR4 1 8 R-B2 P-R5 1 9 K-B I p-B4 ! with
advantage to Black.

12 . . .

P-N3

\-Ve are {c ! l oviing the game Bukic-Ciocaltea, Szombathely

which there followed

1 3 N-K2

J 6 B-K3 B-Q2 1 7 K-K2 Q-B I

with complications and chances

1 966, in
3 1 4 1'>-:->3 K-R I 1 5 Q- <> '2 N-N I
1 8 KR-KI\" I P-B3 1 9 QR-N I B-Q I

-B

for both plavers.

1 04 TM Cz;ee/& Benoni
IUrutratWe Gamu

White : Spauky Black : Obit"ca

2 P-Q.B4 P-B4

I 1'--Q4 N-KB3
B-it2

6 N-B3 0--0

1 0 B-R6 N-N2

7 B-Q.3 Q.N-Q.2

14 N-Q.2 ! K-RI

1 5 P-KR4 N-NI
19 p x p

23 N X P N-R4
31 N-K4 R X P

34 Q-N3 P-KN4

35 N x B R X N

White : Pol1lgaievsky
I 1'--Q4 N-KB3

B-K2

1 0 B-R6 N-N2
K3 P-Q.R3
I'--QN4
B-Q.I

file)

4 N-Q.B3 P-K4

8 P-KR3 N-Q.2

1 2 N-K2 K-RI

5 P-K4

9 P-R3 P-KN3

1 3 N-N3 N-NI

14 B

is better designed to keep the initiative)

1 7 K-K2 R-N I

1 8 KR-KNI Q-KI

2 I Q.R-KB I Q-K2

22 N-B3 B x N

1 9 Q.R-NI
23 P x B

at once is better, since it is White who gains the Q.N

24 P X P P-B4

2 8 R-NI Q-B I

ch

33 B-K4 Q-R4

ch resigns.

3 1'--Q 5 P-B4

I I P-KN4 N-B3

1 6 P-N3 B-Q.2

25 Q-N2 N X R

29 Q-K4 B x B

32 N(K4)-B6 Q-Q.B2

7 N-D3 N-KI

20 N-Q.2 B-R5 !

2 1 N-B3 N-N5

Black : Stein USSR Championship 1 966

1 5 Q-B2 ( 1 5 p-N4 !

P X P (23 . . . P-B4

28 p-K6 B-KN4

36 Q-K5

2 P-Q.B4 P-Q.3

6 B-Q.3 0--0

1 7 P-N5 B-KI

20 P X P P X P

24 N X P(N4) ! ! N-N6

2 7 Q. x N R-KR2

30 Q. X B Q-K2

1 3 Q.R-NI B-Q.2

1 6 B-K3 P-KR4

e.p. N X P

5 P-K4

9 P-KN4 P-KN3

8 Q-K2 N-KI

1 2 P-KR3 P-R3

1 8 P-B4 p-B4 ? !
22 R X N P X R

4 N-Q.B3 P-Q.3

3 P-Q.5 P-K4

I I 0--0--0 N-B3

2 6 p-K5 ! ! R-B2

Beverwijk 1 967

25 N-R2 Q-KI

29 Q-N2 ! P X NP

26 R-N I N-B3

2 7 R X R Q. X R

30 P-KR4 N(N2)-R4

3 1 N-B I N-NI

would give White some advantage)

36 B-K2 Q-B6 ch 37 K-B2
N(Nl )-B3 38 K-N2 ? Q-B7 39 R-N2 Q. x P ch 40 K-NI Q.-Q.5 ch 41
K-N2 B-B4 42 N-Q.2 Q-K6 43 Q-Q.8 ch N-NI 44 B-B I Q. x p ch 45
K-RI Q-B7 46 Resigns.
32 Q-N6 R-B3

Q-B I !

33 B-N5 ? (33 Q-N8 !

34 B X R

ch Q. X B

35 K-K I Q-B6

C. White fianchettoes his king's bishop

This plan is well-motivated here, for P-KN3 is a useful preparation for
P-KB4, and thus discourages Black's thematic plan of . . . B-KN4. The
disadvantage of fianchettoing lies partly in the slight loss of time
involved, but mainly in the resulting weakness of the KB I to Q.R6
diagonal. This enables Black to play . . . P-Q.N4 more easily, and this
move, often involving a pawn sacrifice, forms a common theme for
much of Black's counterplay.
From diagram 65 :

The Ct;.ech Benoni 105

0-0
6 P-KN3
The pawn sacrifice 6
P-Q.N4 has been played even at this early stage.
and is a good practical alternative to the text move. For example :
P-Q.R3. as was played
7 P x P 0-0 (less accurate is the immediate 7
in Portisch-Damjanovic, Monaco 1 968, which continued 8 N-B3 0-0
9 N-Q.2 p X P 1 0 N X P N-R3 I I N-Q.B3 N-B2 1 2 N-B4 B-Q.R3 1 3 B
Q.3 lCQ,2 1 4 N-N6 with advantage to White) 8 B-R3 P-Q.R3 9 B X B
Q. X B 1 0 p X P N X RP I I N-B3 P-B5 1 2 0-0 N-B4 1 3 N-Q.2 N-Q.6
with compensation for the pawn, Pachman-Jansa, Harrachov 1 966.
6 N-R3 7 B-R3 is unsatisfactory for Black. Vladimirov-Sergievsky,
Sochi 1 966, continued 7 . . . N-B2 8 B X B Q. X B 9 N-B3 lCQ,2 1 0 Q.
K2 P-Q.R3 I I P-Q.R4 R-Q.NI 1 2 0-0 0-0 1 3 P-R5 .
.

7 N2
Developing the bishop on KR3 has also been tried here. Krogius
Polugaievsky, Sochi 1 966, continued 7 B-R3 B X B 8 N X B Q.-B I
9 N-KN5 P-KR3 1 0 N-B3 N-R2 I I Q;-Q.3 N-R3 1 2 P-Q.R3 N-B2
1 3 B-K3 Q;-R6 with equality. The ambitious 7 p-KR4 ? ! is also possible ;
for example 7 . . . Q.N-Q.2 8 B-R3 P-Q.N4 ! ? 9 P x P P-Q.R3 l O P X P
P-B5 I I B-K3 Q;-R4 1 2 Q.-B2 B-Q. I ! 1 3 N-B3 B-N3 14 B X B Q. X B
1 5 0-0 B X P 1 6 KR-N I N-B4 with good play for the pawn, Donner
Kavalek, The Hague 1 966. See also the game Addlson-Vasiukov at
the end of this section for another very interesting example of this line.
The pawn sacrifice . . P-Q.N4 is also effective if White plays N-KB3
too early. The game Ivkov-Hort, Sousse 1 967, went 7 N-KB3 Q.N-Q.2
8 B-N2 P-Q.N4 9 Px P P-Q.R3 I O N-Q.2 P X P I I N X P B-Q.R3 1 2 B
B I N-N3 1 3 N-B3 B X B 1 4 N X B Q;-B I 1 5 N-K3 Q;-R6 16 Q;-B2 P-N3
1 7 Q;-N2 Q. X Q. 1 8 N X Q. N-R5 and Black stood no worse.
7 ...
N-KI
Black does best to keep his position flexible. 7 . . . N-R3 is unsatisfactory :
8 KN-K2 B-Q.2 9 0-0 N-B2 1 0 P-B4 N-K I I I Q.-Q3 B-B3 1 2 P-B5 ,
.

1 06 Tilt Cr:.ech Bnumi

Zaitsev-Servievsky, Kiev 1 965. It is always dangerous for Black to
develop his queen's knight in this way, since he is then badly prepared
to deal with 'White's P-KB4.
7 . Q.N-Q.2 transposes to the main line.
. .

8 KN-
8 N-B3 is ineffective since it hinders the advance of the KBP and allows
Black to develop q ueen s sid(; play. Suetin-Batnikov, Moscow 1 96 1 ,
con tinued 8 . . Q,N-Q,2 9 P-KR4 Q,N-B3 1 0 Q;-Q. 2 N-B2 1 I N B J B-Q.2
1 2 P-R4 P-Q.N3 1 3 N-K3 P-N3 14 B-B3 P-Q,R3 1 5 P-Q.R5 P-Q.N4
with some advantage for Black.
'

--

77
B

N-Q.2

8 ...

8 . . . B-N4, after which 9 0--0 B X B

1 0 N X B ( 1 0 Q, X B P-Q,R3 I I Q,-K3 N-Q,2 1 2 P-Q,R4 R-N l 1 3 P-B4
N-B2 14 Q,-Q,3 Q;-B3 1 5 B-R3 P-Q,N4 ! +, Vranesic-Ciocaltea, Tel
Aviv 1 964) P-KN3
I I P-B4 N-Q,2 1 2 N-Q,3 Q;-K2 1 3 Q;-Q,2 P-N3
14 Q,R-K l B-Q,R3 led to a satisfactory game for Black in Byrne-Hughet,
Lugano 1 968. However, after 8 . . . B-N4 9 p-B4 ! casts doubt on Black's
play. For example 9 . . . P X P
1 0 P X P B-R5 ch I I N-N3 P-B4 1 2 0--0
( 1 2 p-K5 ! ? p X P 1 3 P X P P-B5 1 4 0-0 P X N 1 5 R X R ch K X R 1 6
B-K3 p X P ch 1 7 K-R l N-R3 1 8 p-Q,6 i s unclear, Sergievsky-Kotkov,
Chebokar 1 960) p X P
1 3 Q,N X P P-KN3 1 4 B-Q,2 N-N2 1 5 B-Q,B3
N-B4 1 6 Q,-Q,2 N-R3 1 7 P-N3 N-B2 1 8 Q,R-K l N-K l 19 N-N5 ! ,
Kozlov-Dvoretski, U S S R 1 967.
A serious error would b e 8 . . . p-B 4 ? since after 9 P x P B X P White
has gained the use of his K4-square. Benko-Zwai g , Hav:ina 1 966,
continued 1 0 0-0 N-Q2
J I N-K4 P-K R3
1 2 N ( 2 ) -B3 P -R3 I J P-Q,R3
An important alternative here is

with a clear advantage.

Finally,

Vranesic-

8 . . . ,-R3

0- 0 Q,N--B2

is worth onsideration here.

Bilek, :\msterdam 1 964, con tinuc -1

:; -T{3 R-Q 'I I

P-Q,R4

The CeeA Bmtmi 1 07

P-Q,N3

1 !2 P-B4 B-B3

13 B!2 P-Q,1t3

14 N-BI , when 14

P-Q.N4 1

gives Black satisfactory prospects.

9 "'"

.,.
B

P-KN3
9 ...
P-Q.1t3 1 0 P-Q.1l4 P-Q.N3 has been played a number of times here :
9
(a) I I !CQ.3 It-N I 1 2 B-Q.2 ( 1 2 It-N I is better) P-N3 1 3 P-N3
P-B4 1 4 P-B4, Clarke-Langeweg, Kecskemet 1 964, and now 14
N-N2 is safe and good.
(b) I I B-K3 It-N I 1 2 !CQ.3 N-B2 ! [ 3 P-B4 B-B3 14 It-N I It-K I
1 5 P-B5 B-K2 16 K-Itl K-It l 1 7 N-N I with equal chances, Pachman
Watzka, Vrnjacka Banja 1 967.
(c) [ I B-Q.2 R-N I 1 2 N-B I N-B2 1 3 K2 B-B3 14 R-N [ R-K2
1 5 N ( I )-R2 ! P-Q,1l4 1 6 N-N5 , Korchnoi-Udovcic, Belgrade 1 957
White may also omit P-Q.1l4 in this line : Cobo-Boey, Lugano 1 968,
went 9
P-Q,R3 10 B-K3 P-KN3 I I Q,2 N-N2 1 2 P-B4 P-B4
1 3 K-R I ( 1 3 P-KR3 B-B3 1 4 K-R2 P-N3 1 5 Q,R-K I R-R2 = , Andersen
Hort, Krems 1 967) P X BP 1 4 N X P N-K4 1 5 P-N3 N-N5 1 6 B-N I
B-B3 with chances for both sides.
N-N2
10 B-R6
1 1 Q.-Q.2
The position is now delicately balanced and prospects are even. Two
examples : (i) I I . . . P-B4 1 2 P-B4 R-B2 1 3 P-N3 p.,-Q,R3 1 4 B-R3
B-B3 1 5 Q,R-B I K2 1 6 BP X P N X P 1 7 B X N B X B [ 8 p X P p X P
1 9 N-1l4 p-B5 ! ?, Lengyel-Cobo, Havana 1 966. (ii) I I . . . N-B3 1 2 P
KR3 K-R I 1 3 B-K3 N-Q,2 14 K-R2 P-B4 15 P-B4 KP X P 1 6 B X P
P-KN4 I 7 B-K3 N-K4 1 8 P-N3 B-Q, [ 9 N-N I P-Q,R3 2 0 N-B3,
. .

Portisch-Zwaig, Balle 1 967.

In both
assess.

cases

the

remlting position is

very

obscure and difficult to

108

TM C_ BIIfIItIi

IllIulraliw GatM
White: Addf"Oll

Black : Vuiakov Reykjavik Ig68

I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.lI4 P-lI4 3 P-Q.5 P-Jt4 4 NB3 P-Q.3 5 P-Jt4
B-U 6 P-1tN3 0-0 7 P-JtR4 N-1l3 8 B-R3 B x B 9 N X B N4
10 P XP N-B2 I I P-1tN4 2 12 P-N5 ItN-ItI 13 P-R4 Il-NI 14
u BI 15 B-2 R3 16 R-R3 BI 17 P-B3 P-N3 18 N-B2
N-N2 19 B4 P X P 20 P X , 2 21 R-R7 ItI 22 N3 N X P
23 N X N Q.XN 24 Q. x Q. R X Q. 25 P-N4 P X P 26 1t-1t2 N-R4 27 R
Q.NI p-N6 28 R7 P-B4 29 p x p e.p. B X P 30 R X Q.P N-N6 ch
31 ItI B X P 32 N XP N X P 33 R-Q.7 N-B3 34 R-R7 RX P 35 N-B6
N-1t5 36 P XN R-BB ch 37 1t-1(2 R-B7 ch 38 It-K3 R(Q.4) XB 39
Resigns.

D. White develops his bishop on Qs and

knight on K2
From diagram
6 B-Q.3
0-0
7 KN-1U

65 :

79
B

This system is not particularly effective, for Black is not prevented

from playing . . B-KN4 exchanging his bad bishop.
N-R4
7
This is the most aggressive move here, though 7 . : N-K I has also
achieved good results. For example 8 0-0 B-N4 9 PR3 N-Q.2 1 0
P-KN3 B X B II N X B P KN3 1 2 B-K2 N-N2 1 3 N-Q.3 P-B4 14 P X P
N X P 1 5 B-B3 N-Q.5 with good play for Black, Hamann-Hort, Harra
chov 1967.
.

TIw Cz:;h Bmoni l og

8 0-0
If 8 N-N3 Black achieves excellent . prospects with 8
N-B5 ! Ivlev
Batnikov, Moscow 1 967, then continued 9 B X N P X B 10 N-R5 B-N4
J I P-KN3 P-KB4 1 2 N XBP P X P 1 3 B X P B XN 1 4 P X B R X P 1 5
(C-R5 R-R5 1 6 (C-K2 N2 1 7 0--0-0 N-B3 and Black stands better.
Another try here is 8 B-K3 as in Peterson-Godes, Sochi 1 966, when
after 8
B-N4 9 !C"Q.2 B X B 10 Q.X B R3 J I P-KN3 P-KN3 1 2
P-B4 P x P 1 3 P x P (C-R5 ch 14 (C-B2 chances were about even.
B-N.f
8 ...
9 P-Q.R3
In the game Karaklaic-Bertok, Yugoslav Championship 1 962, White
secured the better game after 9 B X B Q. x B 10 (C-B I (C-K2 I I (C-K3
N-R3 ? 1 2 Q.R-KI N-B2 1 3 P-B4 N X BP 14 N X N P X N 1 5 Q.xp.
Instead of 1 1
N-R3 ? Black should have played J I
Q.N2 or
11
P-KN3, since the queen's knight is needed to guard the important
K4 square.
P-Q.R3
g ...
Also satisfactory is 9
P-KN3. Scalcotas-Plachetka, Ybbs 1 968, con
tinued 1 0 PN4 P-N3 1 1 Q.R-NI B X B 1 2 Q.X B Q.N2 1 3 (C-R6
(C-K2 14 P-N3 Q.N-B3 15 P-B3 K-RI with equality.
10 P-Q.N.f
P-Q.N3
Porath-Doda, Havana 1966, now continued J I P X P NP X P 1 2 R-NI
B X B 1 3 Q.XB N2 14 (C-K3 P-N3 1 5 R-N3 N-N2 1 6 KR-NI P-B4
with equal chances.

E. White develops his knight on KNS

6 KN-IU (see diagram 80)
This is a dangerous line for Black to have to combat, for if he continues
unwarily White may build up a ferocious attack on the king's side.
The immediate 6 . 0-0, for example, is very risky since after 7 N-N3
N-KI 8 P-KR..f Black's position is most precarious. An example of
what may happen is the game Radev-Kirov, Bulgaria 1 966, which
continued 8 . . . P-Q.R3 9 N-B5 B X N 10 P X B N2 1 1 B3 N-B!Z
1 2 P-KN4 PN4 1 3 P-N5 p X P 1 4 B-B2 R-KI 1 5 p-B6 ! B-B I 1 6
K-B I P-K5 1 7 N X P N-K4 18 P-R5 N6 1 9 B X N P X B 20 Q.X P
R-'K4 2 1 p-N6 ! R X Q.P 22 P X BP ch K-RI 23 (C-KN3 R8 ch 24
K-N2 R X R 25 B-R6 ! NK3 26 R X R !C"Q.2 2 7 N X Q.P 1l1 2 8 R I
. .

The C;:ech Benoni

1 10

Q-B3 ch

33

29 K-R2 Q-B2

p x p ch N x P

3 1 Q-KS Q;-NI

32 P-B4 P-BS

R-KN I resigns.
A more active attempt by Black was seen in the game Simagin

Taimanov, Kislovodsk 1 966 : 6

. . . 0--0

8 P-KR4 P--Q.R3

7 N-N3 N-K I

80
B

9 P-Q,R4 P-Q.N3
1 2 N X P N-B3

1 0 N-B5 B X N
1 3 N-N5 R-K I

1 1 P Y- B

I I P X B P-K5, but after

1 4 B-K2 Q.N-Q.2

1 5 K-B I N-K4

16

R-Q. R3 Black had insufficient compensation for the pawn.

Also insufficient

9 P-R5 B-N4 !

is 8 . . . P-KN3

IQ B X B Q.X B

in this line, for White plays not

I I Q-Q.2 with equality as in Bondarevsky

Polugaievsky, Rostov 1 96 1 , but 9 B-R6 ! N-N2

B XP

I I Q,-Q2 with a vehement attack)

B-B3

1 3 P-R3 B-Q.2

1 4 P- Q.N4 P-N3

1 0 B-K2 N-R3 ( 1 0 . . .

I I Q-Q2 N-B2
1 5 K-B l

1 2 P-R5

with advantage,

POl'tisch-Jimenez, Havana 1 966.

As these games show, it is best for Black not to castJe into the full
force of White's onslaught. Other plans, however, are quite satisfactory
for Black and in many cases th position of White's king's knight is
embarrassingly difficult to justify. This accounts for the relative

UIl

popularity of this variation for White. Some examples of Black's correct

strategies are as follows :
(a) 6 . . . N-R3 7 N-N3 N-B2

R--Q.N I

0--0

14 B-K3 P-B5

P--Q.R3
P XP

1 0 P--Q.R3 P-Q.N4
=,

12 NXN PXN

Forintos-Milic, Belgrade 1 967)

1 0 - B-K3 P-Q.N4 !
1 4 P X P B--Q.2

8 P-Q.R3 (01' 8 B-K2 P-Q.R3

I I p X P N X NP
I I P X P N X NP

1 5 0-0 Q-B2

0--0

12 N XN P XN

0--0

1 3 P-Q.N4
9 B-K2
1 3 P-N4

1 6 Q.--Q.2 (Nikolic-Minic, Belgrade

1 966) R-R5 ! with equal chances.

(b) 6 . . . P-Q.R3 7 N-N3 P-KN3 8 B--Q.3

I I B-K3 B-N4 ! 1 2 Q;-Q2 B X B

1 0 KN-K2 N-R4
P--Q.R3 N-BS

P-KR4

9 0--0 P-RS

1 3 Q. X B P-KN4

14

1 5 P--Q.N4 N--Q.2, Mohring-Ciocaltea, Zinnowitz 1 966,

with advantage to Black.

(c) 6 . . .

Q.N-Q.2

7 N-N3 p-N3

8 B-K2 P--Q.R3

9 B-R6 B-B I

The Gz;ech Berwni

1 0 B--Q2 B-K2 I I P--QR3 P-KR4 I 2 P-Q.N4 P-R5
blinsky, Moscow Championship 1 966.

F. O ther plans for White

=,

II

Niki6n-Lyu

(from diagram 65)

One of the difficulties of studying an opening of this type is that

White's possible plans are numerous and cannot be relied upon to fall
into neat categories. The systems considered so far cover most of the
possibilities of piece development for White, but there remain a few
odd lines, mostly involving early pawn moves not previously considered.
An appeal to the basic principles of the poshion and analogy with other
variations should always be sufficient to cope with anything outlandish,
but for the sake of completeness I shall mention a few more ideas here :
(a> 6 B-IU 0-0 7 P-Bof? is very poor for White. After 7 . . . P x P
8 B x P Q.N-Q,2 9 N-B3 N-Rof 1 0 B-K3 P-KN3 1 1 0-0 B-B3
12 Q,-B! N-K4 13 N x N B x N, Stahlberg-Langeweg, Zevenaar 1 96 1 ,
Black had a firm grip on the central black squares and White's aggres
sion has only rebounded on himself.
(b) 6 B-K2 0-0 7 P-KNof! ? is better positionally motivated than
the previous line but achieves no advantage. Navarovsky-Kavalek,
Szombathely 1 966, continued 7 . . . N-KI 8 B-K3 N-B2 (8
P-Q.R3
9 P--QR4 P-KN3 1 0 Q.-Q.2 P-KB4 ? 1 1 NP X P p X P 1 2 p X P B X P 1 3
N-B3 K-R I 14 KR-N I P-K5 1 5 N-N5 , Ivanov-Noskov, Kazakhstan
Championship 1 968) 9 Q,-Q,2 P-Q,R3 10 P-Q,14 P-N3 11 P
R3 N-Q,2 12 N-B3 R-NI 13 0-0 R-KI 14 KR-NI K-RI 15
N-KI R-NI 16 N-Q.3 P-Q.Rof with equality.
(c> 6 B-Q.3 0-0 7 P-KR3 should be met by 7 . . . Q.N-Q..2 or
7 . . . N-KI as in line B. Not, however, 7 . . . N-R3? 3 P--:R3 N-K I
9 KN-K2 P-KN3 1 0 0-0 N-N2 I I p-B4 ! P-3 ? 1 2 P-B5 P-KN4 ?
1 3 P-KR4, Reshevsky-Crepinsek, Maribor 1 967, when Black is already
strategically lost.
. .

Postscript
One variation not yet discussed and yet very closely related to the
Czech Benoni is that introduced by the moves I P-Q.of N-KB3 2 p
(tB4 P-Bof 3 P-Q,S P-Kf of N-Q,B3 P-Q.3 5 P-Kf Q.N-Q.2.
For some time I thought of this as an option preserving system,
with Black awaiting events before deciding what to do with his king's

J 12

The Czech Bmoni

bishop; It does, however, have independent merit, particularly against

lines with B-Q.3 : some examples :
(a) Reshevsky-Quinteros, Buenos Aires 1 970, went 6 P-KRS
B-K2 7 B-Q,3 N-B I ! ? 8 B-K3 P-KR4 9 Q,-Q.2 P-R5 1 0 P-KN4 P x P e:p.
I I P X P N-N5 ! drawn ! ? though Black already stands better.
(b) Ghitescu-Petrosian, Zagreb 1 970, went 6 N-B3 a-K2 7 a-Q.3
N-BI 8 P-KR3 (8 P-Q,R3 may be a better plan : 8 . . . N-N3 9 0-0
P-KR4 10 P-Q.N4 with some queen's side initiative, Weissman-Ciocaltea,
Romanian Ch. 1 970) 8 . . . B-Q.2 9 Q,-K2 P-KR3 10 B-K3 N-N3 I I N
Q,2 P-KR4 1 2 P-Q,R3 P-R5 1 3 N-B3 N-R4 1 4 Q,-B2 N (3)-B5 1 5 B-KB I
P-Q,N4 with a lovely game for Black.

81
W

Perhaps the critical test comes with 6 P-KN3 since after 6 . . . P

KN3 ? ! ' 7 B-N2 B-N2 White has the very strong possibility of 8 N-R3 !
as in the game Kushnir-J. Hartston, Women's Olympiad , Skopje
1 972. After this White is well placed to play P-KB4 when Black is
somewhat stifled. Thus Black is best advised to continue along Czech
Benoni lines with 6 . . . B-K2 .
On the whole 5 . . . Q,N-Q.2 'may be recommended as a transpositional
possibility, particularly if Black fears the B-Q,3 attack.
Illustrative Game
White : Kuijpet' Black : HartstoD Anglo-Dutch Match 1 9 7 1
Self-indulgence ' i s only part o f the reason for choosing this game ;
it also demonstrates how well this opening can respond if the player
has faith in it.
I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.5 P-K4 4 oN-Q.B3 P-Q.3
5 P-K4 a-K2 6 N-B3 0-0 7 a-K2 Q.N-Q.2 8 P-Q.R3 P-Q.R3
It is difficult to say whether this is a good move at this stage. It is
certainly useful for Black to refrain from committing himself yet on the

The Czech Benoni

I 13

king's side, while also it is nice to have possibilities of . . . P-Q,N4 in the air.
Nevertheless, if White proceeds with his plan of P-Q,N4 answering
P-Q,N3 with the advance of the Q,RP to R5, Black may feel that his
Q,RP belongs on . . . Q,R2 . Like all interesting moves, 8 . . . P--Q.R3 has both
plusses and minuses and we shall have to wait for a great deal more
experience before reaching a final judgement.
9 R-Q,NI
9 P-Q,N4 would allow . . . P--Q.N4 with good play for Black, since 10
P x BP is met by . . . Q,N X P with an attack on the KP.
9 . . . K-RI !?
This continue the waiting policy while already preparing the thematic
wandering manoeuvre of the Q,N to KN I .
i o 0--0 N-KI 1 1 P-Q,N4 P-KN3 1 2 B-R6 N-N2 13 Q,-BI?1
1 3 Q,-Q,2 is normal and correct.
13 . . . P-N3 14 N-KII?
This allows Black to gain the initiative ; better was 1 4 P--Q.R4 keeping
the knight on KB3 to retain the possibility of answering . . . P-B4 with
N-KN5
14 P-B4!
It is very pleasant to be able to play this move without going on a
ramble with the Q,N first.
15 P-B4 KP x P 16 B x P P-KN4 17 B-Q,2 P-B5 18 P-N3
White must try this to avoid being completely squashed with . . . N-K4.
18 . . . KBP x P 19 R x R ch N x R 20 RP x P N-N3 21 N-Q,3
B-B3 22 K-IU Q,-K2 23 P x P NP x P 24 Q,-RI ?
Ugly and bad ; 24 Q;-B I was better though White is i n difficulties in
any case.
24 . . . N-K4 25 Nx N B x N 26 R-KBI B-Q,2 27 Q,-N2 ? P-N51
28 K-RI

1 14

TM CQ.Cia BtrUnIi

To prevent

..

!C"1l5 ch

N-a. Sl9 B-XI R-KMI '1

Of coune !2g
N x P ch 30 B x N B X N is decisive.
N-Q.I
R
-N, ,1 N-X, R-:a, sa X-NI N-Bs 33 8-. B-Q.s
SO
Sf B-Q.3 K4 35 R-KI R-R6- " N-BI X-Na '7 B x B Q.x B cia
. . .

sa R-X, B-RS 39 Kh B-Q.8 ... Q.-Bt B-B6 .1 P-XS'1 (S

diagram 82).
41 It-B!2 l is

the only move to save White, but he did not see the ensuing
combination.
..
R-R8 cia X-Ba N-X5 cbI and White reUpecl since 43 B X N
7 Ch 44 It-Itl !C"BS ch leads to mate.
.

3. Other Benoni systems

1 16

Other Benoni Systems

In this section we shall discuss other, generally less important, varia

tions of the Benoni which are not dealt with in the preceding pages.
Since the Benoni covers a wide range of piece and pawn formations
which both sides may adopt, it is not easy to classify the various lines
very conistent1y. For ease of reference, however, they are here divided
into the following sections :
(i) The King's Indian Benoni : 1 P--Q.4 N-KB3 2 P--Q.B4 P-B4 3 P
Q,5 P-K4

4 N-Q,B3 P--Q.3

5 P-K4 P-KN3

(ii) Schmid's system : I P-Q,4 P--Q.B4 2 P--Q.5 P-Q.3 3 N--Q.B3.

(iii) The semi-Benoni : I P-Q,4 P-Q,B4 2 P-Q,5 P-K4 with White not
playing P--Q.B4.
(iv) Odds and Ends.

(i) The King's Indian Benoni

P-Qof N-KB3
S P-Kf P-KN:J
I

2 P'-QBof P-Bof

3 P-Q5 P-Kf

of N-QB3 P-Q3

This hybrid variation is a cross between the Czech Benoni and the
King's Indian, and many of the characteristics of both the-se openings
are apparent in the further play. White must choose whether to treat
the line as a King's Indian, and allow Black to transpose into that
opening, or whether to meet it by more direct methods. The former plan
is attractive, since completely Closing the centre with , P-K4 and
P-B4 is often faulty in the King's Indian and it may be expected
that White should be able to profit from this by steering the game
into channels unfavourable to Black. Indeed, one of White's most
promising continuations is to play 6 B-K2 B-N2 7 N-BS 0-0 8 B
N5 which leads into a variation of Petrosian's system against the King's
Indian considered better for White. Other lines leading to the King's
Indian also fall outside the scope of this book and we discuss below
. .

. .

Other Benoni systems

I I7

on i y those lines of independent value. However it must always be borne

in mind that these possibilities do exist and form a necessary part of the
system as a whole.

8 P-KR3 ! (also good is 8 N-N3 ! , for example, Mititelu-del Corral,

1 960, continued 8 . P-QR3 9 P-QR4 QN-Q2 10 B-N5 ,P-R3
1 1 B-Q2 Q-K I 1 2 P-R4 P-KR4 1 3 Q-K2 N-R2 14 QR-R3 N-B3 with
a slight advantage for White. Ineffective, however, is 8 0-0 when
Black equalises with 8
N-R4 ! 9 N-N3 N-B5 ; Henneberke- Matanovic,
Zevenaar 1 96 1 , then continued 10 Q-K2 N X B
1 1 Q X N N-Q2 1 2
B-Q2 ) 8
P-QR3 9B-N5 P-R3 10 B-K3 K-R2 1 1 Q-Q2
QN-Q2 !2 P-KN4 KN-NI 13 P-KR4 with some advantage to
White, Olafsson-Gufeld, Moscow 1 96 1 .
Leipzig

. .

. . .

. . .

(b) 6 B-K2 B-N2

P-KR4 P-KR4

(Also possible is

7 . . . P-KR3 , 8 P-R5 P-KN4 as in Haygarth-Nilsson,

1 960, which continued 9 P-B3 N-R3 10 P-KN4 N-B2 1 1 B
Q3 B-Q2 1 2 KN-K2 0-0 1 3 N-N3 P-QR3 with minimal advantage
for White) 8 B-N5 P-R3 9 Q-Q2 (9 P-R4 QN-Q2
10 Q-Q2 Q;-R4
1 1 R-R3 with a slight advantage, Vladimirov-Stein, R S F S R v Ukraine
1 957) 9 . QN-Q2 10 P-B3 N-BI 11 N-R3 N(I )-R2 12 B
K3 B-Q2 13 N-B2 Q-K2 14 P-KN4 0--0 15 0--0-0 with an
unclear position, A. Zaitsev-Schianovsky, Erevan 1 962.
Leipzig

(c) 6 B-K2 B-N2

(7 B-N5 ( !)

P-B4

leads to Averbach's system against the King's Indian with

Black playing an inferior variation)

P xP

8 BxP

0--0

P-K5

0,. Bentmi S.1sUms

u8

(9 N-XB3 ? N-R4 10 B-K3 Q.N-Q. is better for Black)

R-.Jb with equality (Euwe) .

(d)

PxP

10

B xP

6 B-K2 N-R3 ! ?

This is an interesting attempt to deal with the problems raised in

line (b) above. For exam ple after 7 P-KR4 P-KR4 8 B-N5, Black can
B-R3 ! as in the game Stahlberg-Pilnik, Beverwijk 1 958,
play 8

which continued 9 B X B. R X B
N-B2

13 P-B3 P-R3

10

<C-Q.2 R-RI

1 1 N-R3 B X N

12 R X B

14 Q,R-N I R-Q.N I with equal chances. The dis

advantage of this idea, however, lies in the possibility White has

playing 7

of

P-B"I, for Black's knight can no longer come to the defence

of the K4-square. The game Carvallo-Recalde, Sao Paolo 1 960, con

tinued 7

. . . N-Q.2

(after 7

...

p XP

8 B X P White continues with N-B3

and can soon play P-K5 in better circumstances than in line (b) above)
8 N-B3 B-N2 9 0-0 N-B 1 0 K-RI Q-K2 I I P-B5 with a clear
advantage for White.

(e) 6 P-B3

This line shows one of the more interesting aspects of the King's Indian
Benoni ; here White is attempting to play a Samisch variation against
a King's Indian which would be very good with Black having played
.

P-Q.B4 and . . . P-K4. However, here Black need not comply with White's

. . . B-N2 and 0-0 : 6 . . . N-R..-I

B-K3 B-K2 8 Q-Q.2 P-B4 9 P X P P X P 10 B-Q.3 0-0
I I 0-0-0 N-Q.2 =, Niemala-Doda, Varna 1 962) 7 . . . B--N2 8 B--RS
0-0 9 B x B Q.x B 10 P-KN.f N-BS 1 1 KN-IU N-R6 12 N

wishes by playing the natural moves of

7 P-KNS

(7

KNI N-BS drawn,

Ilivitsky-Petrosian, Goteborg 1 955.

Ot,," Benoni systems

(f)

6 P-KRg B-N2

I 19

7 P-KN4

N-Rg 8 B3 N-B2 9 B-Kg B2 1 0 P-Rg l\-NI I I P-N4 P-N3

12 KN-K2 K-BI 1 3 N-N3 P-KR4 14 p-N5 ! N-R2 15 p-KR4 ! P-Bg
16 Q;-Q.2 P X KNP 1 7 RP X P with the better game for White, Taimanov
Doda, Leningrad I g66.

(ii) Schmid'. System: I P-Q,4 P-Q.B4 2 P-Q,S P-Q,3

s N-QJls P-KNS
86
W

Although this systems is seldom encountered with the move-order given

above, the positions arising from it are of great importance in a large
number of openings. To give one interesting example, it may be noted
that the positions reached b y the following three openings are in fact
identical :

(i) I P-Q,4 P -Q.B 4 2 P-Q, 5 P -Q,3 3 N-Q,B3 P-KN3 4 . P-K4 B-N2

I
5 N-B3 N-KB3 6 B-K2 0-0 7 0-0 N-R3 8 R-K I ;
(ii) I P-X4 P-Q.B4 2 N-KB3 P-KN3 3 P-Q.4 B-N2 4 P-Q.S P-Q,3
5 N-B3 N-KB3 6 B-K2 0-0 7 0-0 N-R3 8 R-K I ;
(iii) I P-K4 P-Q,3 2 P-Q,4 N-KB3 3 N-Q,B3 P-KN3 4 N-B3 B-N2
5 B-K2 0-0 6 0-0 N-R3 7 R-K t P-B4 8 P-Q, 5 .
The West German grandmaster Lothar Schmid has played this line
frequently as Black and is one of the very few players to have done so
regularly. It is mainly due to his efforts, and perseverance after many
defeats, that the reputati on of the line is not bad.
We consider first the main line with 4 P-K4 B-N:z 5 N-BS N-KB3
6 B-K:z : (see diagram 87)
The natural move here is 6 . . . 0-0, but experience has shown that this
is too slow to give Black equality. The game Smyslov'::'Schmid, Helsinki
1 952, for example, continued 6 . . . 0-0 7 0-0 N-R3 (7 . . . B-N5
8 N-Q.2 ! B X B 9 Q, X B N-R3 1 0 N-B4 N-B2 1 1 P-Q,R4 , Ratsc:h-

1 20

Other Benoni Systems

Badestein, Leipzig

1 960) 8 N-Q2 ! N-B2 9 P-QR4 P-N3 1 0 N-B4 B-QR3

I I B-B4 ! R-N I ? ( 1 1 . . . B X N is necessary, though White clearly stands
better after 1 2 B X B)
1 2 P-QN3 ! N-Q2 1 3 Q-Q2 with great advantage
for White.
Black's best move, extensively played by Schmid, is

6 . . . N-R3!

with the idea of delaying castling until Black's queen's side play is
more under way. Naturally, leaving the king in the centre can be very
dangerous, but it seems that Black can get away with this and secure
equal chances if he is careful. For example : 7 0--0

N-B2 8 P-Q.14
I I B-KB4 was played

(8 R-K I 0-0

9 P-QR4 P-QR3 1 0 B-KNS P-R3

1 962, and now Black may obtain an equal
game with I I . . . P-KN4 1 2 B-N3 N-R4 instead of Schmid's continua
tion of I I . . . B-Q2 ? when 1 2 Q-Q2 P-QN4 1 3 P-KS ! was very strong
for White)
8 . . P-Q.R3 9 N-Q.2 B-Q.2! 10 N-B4 P-Q.N4 1 1
P-K5 ( 1 1 N-N6 ? P-NS ! ! , Hayes-Schmid, Dychhoff 1 9S4, i s good for
Black) Q.P x P 12 RP x P N x NP! ( 1 2 . . . R X P ?
13 R X R QXR 14
N X KP P-NS I S p-Q6 ! was played in Botvinnik-Schmid, Leipzig 1 960,
and White quickly broke through with a winning attack) 13 N x N
B x N 14 N x P B x B with equal chances.
Some other possibilities from diagram 86 are as follows :
(a) 4 P- B-N2 5 N-B3 KN-B3 6 B-N5 ch is an interesting
in Spassky-Schmid, Varna

plan with the idea of causing some disruption in Black's development.

Tal-Benko, Bled

1 9S9, continued 6 . . . QN-Q2 (6 . . . B-Q2 7 P-QR4

0-0 8 0-0 N-R3 9 R-K I N-B2 1 0 B X B Q X B I I P-R3 QR-Q I 1 2
B-B4 with a slight ai:lvantage to White ; Gheoghiu-Soos, Bucharest
1 96 1 ) 7 P-QR4 0-0 8 0-0 P-QR3 9 B-K2 R-N I 10 R-K I N-K I 1 1
B-KB4 N-D2 1 2 B-KD 1 when Black should have played 1 2 . . . P-QN4
with chances of equality.

(b) 4 P-KN3 B-N2 5 B-N2 N-KB3 (also good are : S . . . N-QR3

6 P-K4 N-D2 7 N-R3 ? P-QN4 8 0-0 P-NS with the better game for

Other Benoni systems

121

Black, Jimenez-Penrose, Varna

1 962 ; and 5 . . . P-K4 6 Px P e.p . P x P

7 P-K4 N-QB3 8 N-B3 ? KN-K2 9 B-K3 Q-N3 ! with advantage) 6 P
K4 0-0 7 KN-K2 N-R3 8 0-0 N-B2 9 P-QR4 R-N I 1 0 P-R3 P-N3
1 1 B-K3 P-QR3
1 2 R-N I P-QN4
1 3 p X P N X P ! 14 Q-Q2 with equal
chances ; Smyslov-Zak, Kiev 1 938.

(ill ) The Semi-Benoni :

3 P K.f P Q,3

P-Q,4 P-Q,B4 2 P-Q,S P K.f

88
W

This line has some features in common with the Czech Benoni and the
King's Indian Benoni discussed earlier, into either of which it may easily
transpose if White plays

P-QB4.

Here we discuss those variations in

which White refrains from this move. The line is not completely satis
factory for Black because White has a very fine outpost at

QB4

from

where a knight will bear down on the weak points in the Black position.
It is an amusing piece of chess history that Alekhine referred to his
adoption of this variation as one of his chess sins ; his successes with it
caused it to become quite popular, and he felt an apology to be due
for bringing a poor opening to the notice of the chess-playing public.
Let us examine some of the possibilities from diagram

88 :
P-B41 (5 N-B3 B-N2 6 B-K2 N-K2 7 N
Q2 N-R3 8 N-B4 N-B2 9 P-QR4 0-0 1 0 0-0 P-N3 I I B-K3 B-QR3
1 2 N-R3 B X B 1 3 Q X B P-R4, Rossetto-Schmid, Havana 1 967, is not
bad for Black) 5
P x P (5 . . . B-N2 6 p X P B X P 7 N-B3 B-N5
8 B-N5 ch K-B I 9 0-0 , Botvinnik-Calvo, Palma 1 967) 6 B x P
B-N2 (or 6 . . . N-KB3 7 N-B3 N-R4 8 B-KN5 B-K2 9 B-KR6 B-N5
1 0 B-K2 B-Q2 I I p-K5 ! P X P 1 2 p-Q6 ! with a great advantage for
White, Visier-Larsen, Palma 1 968) 7 N-B3 N-KB3 8 B-NS eh
B-Q2 9 B-Q3 , Portisch-Litmanowicz, Budapest 1 957.
(b) 4 N-QB3 P-QR31 5 P-QR4 P-KN3 6 P-14 (6 P-B4 p X P
7 n x BP B-N2 8 N-B3 N-KB3 9 B-K2 N-R4 now only gives equality

( a ) 4 N-QB3 P-KN3

. . .

0,l1li' Btntmi SysUms

White) P-K14 7 N-BS B-NS 8 B-JU B x N 9 B x B N-Q..

11 B x B N x B III O;-Q. P-BS IS N-Q.I P-Ilf
with complications, Antoshin-Bevov, Moscow 1 962 .
. (c) " P-KIlf P x P 5 B x P N-JU (5 . , . Q-R5 ch 6 P-N'3 Q-K2
7 N-KB3 ! is very good for White, for after 7 . . . Q. X P ch 8 K-B2 Black
is in great difficulties. (Not, however, 7 N-Q.B3 ? when 7 . . . p-KN4 !
gives Black the advantage, Bogoljubow-Alekhine, 9th match game 1 934.)
6 B-NS cia B-Q.a 7 B x B cia Q.xB 8 N-KBS N-NS 9 B-NS with
for

10 P-aS 8-aS

equal chances (Kmoch) .

(d) " B-Q.s N-IUI s N-Ka N-Q.. 6 CH) N-KNS 7 P-Q.14

.B-JU

8 N-Q.. P-Q.1ts 9 Q.N-Ilf Q.a-NI

10

P-aS

with some

advantage for White, Filip-IJungquist, Marianske Lazne 1 96 1 .

(iv) Odds and Ends

In this final section there appear those lines after
Q.5 which have not been dealt with previowly.

1 P-Q.4

P-Q.B4

(a ) 2 . . . P-Kf s P-14 P-Q.3 4 P-QBo4 B-K2. This is an unusual

line with Black hoping for better than in the Czech Benoni or King's
Indian Benoni which White's move order invites. Black's plan is to
exchange

the

black-squared bishops at once and this seems quite

effective. The game Incutto-Bazan, Argentine Championship 1 962,

continued 5 N-Q.B3 B-N4 6 N-B3 B x B 7 R X B 8 B-K2 0-0 9 0-0

N-R3,

and Black has a satisfactory position. White does better to avoid

P-Q.B4.
P-Q.Bo4 P-Bo4? is premature.
The game Rossetto-Schmid l 942, continued 5 P X P B X P 6 B-Q.3
B X B 7 Q. X B B-K2 8 N-Q.B3 N-R3 9 N-R3 ! with advantage to White.
(c) 2 . . . P-Q.3 S P-Kf P-KNS 4 P-KB4 B-N2 5 N-KBS is
not effective for White : 5 . . . P-KSl 6 p X P (6 B-N5 ch .B-Q.2 7 B X B
this line by adopting one of the Semi-Benoni variations without

(b) 2 . . . 'P-14 s P-14 p._Q.3

Otlur &noni uslnns

123

8 0--0 N-K2 is good for Black, Fuderer-Schmid, Zagreb 1965)

P x P 7 P-K5 P--Q.4o 8 P-B4 N-K2 9 N"';B3 P-Q.R3 with equal chances,
Van Scheltinga-Schmid, Dublin 195 7.
(d) 11 . . P-KS fails to equalise : 3 N--Q.B3 N-KB3 4 P-K4 P--Q.3 (if 4
p X P 5 p-K5 !) 5 B-N5 ch Q.N--Q.2 6 p X P p X P 7 p-K5 ! p X P 8 N-B3
P--Q.R3 9 B-B4 N-N3 10 Q.x Q. ch with advantage for White, Szabo
Guimard, Mar del Plata 1 962.
P-Q.N4? 1 3 P-K4 P--Q.R3 5 P--Q.R4 P-N5 5 N-KB3 P--Q.3
(e) 11
6 Q.N--Q.2 N-KB3 7 B--Q.3 with a.vantage to White, Rejfir-Llado,
Oberhausen 1 961.
(t) Finally, the bizarre 11
P-Ilf?l which was played a few times
in the Staunton-St. Amant match of 1 843, is strongly met by 3 P-K4!
P KP 4 N--Q.B3 N-Kli3 5 P-B3 (also 5 P-KN4 is worth consideration)
with an improved form of the Staunton gambit in the Dutch defence.
ch Q.XB

. . .

...

Index of Comp lete Games

ADDISON-Vasiukov l oll
BOBOTSOV-Kaplan 85
BUK I C-Tal 55
DONNER-Planinc 83
FOGUELMAN-Mccking 8 1
FORI NTOS-Kluger 5 1
GELLER-Langeweg 2 7
GLIGORI C-Kavalek 86 , -Minic 8 7
GURGENIDZE-Ta I 48
HOROWITZ-Evans 55
I LVITSKY-Petrosian 1 1 6
I VKOV-Najdorf 72
KAVALEK-Trapl 60
KORCHNOI-Lutikov 37, -Tal 1 B
K U IJPE RS-Hartston 1 1 2
OJANEN-Keres 69
PACHMAN-Szaoo 40
PENROSE-Tal 68

PETROSIAN-Schmid 56
POLUGAIEVSKY-Stein 1 04
POPOV-Spassov 86
PORTISCH-Larsen 90
RADEV-Kirov 99, Padevsky 84
RESHEVSKY-Quinleros 1 1 2
RUBINETTI-Garcia 5 1
SOOS-Matu lovic 5 1
SPASSKY-Fischer 8 5 . -Ghitescu 104,
-Savon 8B
STETSKO-Bangiyev B2
SZABO-Perez 34
TOTH-Matulovic 87
UFI MTSEV-Tal 47
UHLMANN-Padevsky 35
VAGANIAN-TaI 89
ZIN SER-Evans 50

Index of Variations

I.

THE

I P-Q.4 N-KB3
4 N-Q.B3 P x P
A.

II

MODERN BENONI
2 P-Q.B4 P-B4
S P x P P-Q.3

3 P-Q.S P-K3

The Fianchetto Variation

6 P-KN3 P-KN3
7 B-N2 B-N2 8 N-B3 0-0 9 0-0
(i) 9 . . . P-Q.R3
(ii) 9 . Q-K2 ( ! )
(iii) 9 . . . N-R3
(iv) Other Ninth Moves
. .

B.

The Knight's Tour Variation

6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 N-Q.2 B-N2
9 B-B4 N-K I 10 Q-Q.2
(i) 1 0 . . . P-N3
(ii) I O
BXN

13
16
17
18
20

N-B4 0-0

. .

c.

Uhlmann's Line
6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 n-NS
(i) 7 ' " P-KR3
(ii) 7 . . . B-N2
(a) 8 N-Q.2
(b) 8 P-K3
(c) (i) 8 P-K4 0-0
(c) (ii) 8 P-K4 P-Q.R3
(c) (iii) 8 P-K4 P-KR3 !

D.

The Main Line

6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 N-B3 B-N2
9 0-0
( I ) 9 . . . P-Q.R3
( 2 ) 9 . . . R-K I

8 B-K2 0-0
38
41

1 26

Index of Variatiorts
41

(i) I Q Q,-B2
(ii) I Q N-Q,2 N-R3
(a) I I R-K I
(b) I I P-B4
(c) 1 1 P-B3 !
E.

F.

G.

44

47
48
51

The Pawn Storm Variation

6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 P-B4 B-2
(i) Mikenas's Line 8 P-K5
(a) 8 . . . p x p
(b) 8 . . . KN-Q.2 ( !)
( ii) Taimanov's Line 8 B-x5ch
8 . . . KN-Q.2 9 B-Q.3 0-0 1 0 x-B3
(a) 1 0 . . . N-R3
(b) 1 0 . . . P-Q.R3
(c) Other Tenth Moves
The Penrose-Tal Line
6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B -Q.3 B-:\2
9 0-0
(i) 9 . . . P-Q.R3
(ii ) 9 . . . P-N3
(iii) 9 . . . -R3
(iv) 9 . . . N-K I

56
57
58
61
63
64
65
66

8 KX-K2 0-0

Other Systems
(i) 6 N-B3 P-KN3 7 B-B4
(ii) 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B-KB4
(iii) 6 P-K4 P-'KN3 7 B-Q.3 B-X2 8 x-B3
(iv) 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 P-B3 B-N2 8 B-KN5
(v) 6 P-K4 P-KN3 7 B-K2 B-N2 8 P-Kx4 ? !

Avoiding the Modern Benoni

(i) The Hypermodern Benoni
I P-Q.4 N-KB3 2 P-Q.B4 P-B4 3 P-Q.5 P-K3
4 N-Q.B3 p X P 5 p X P P-KN3
(a) 6 P-Q.6( !)
(b) 6 N-B3 B-N2
(ii) The Modern Benoni Declined
Annotated Games

56

67
69
70
72
73
73
75
76
77
77

79
80
81

lruiex ( Variations

CZECH BEKONI

93
A. White develops his bishop on K2 and knight on KB3 97
8. White develops his bishop on Q.3 and knight on KB3 100
c. White fianchettoes his King's bishop
104
D. White develops his bishop on Q.3 and knight on K2 108
E. White devlops his knight on KN3
109
F. Other Plans
11I
Ppt
III
. THE

3.

OTHER. BEKOKI SYSTEMS

(i) The King's Indian Benoni
I P- Q.4 K-KB3 !Z PB4 P--B4 3 P5 P-K4
4 K83 P-Q.3 5 P-K4 P-KN3
(ll)

Schmid's System

1 15
1 16
1 19

I 4 B4 !Z P--Q.5 P- Q.3 3 NB3 P-KN3

12 1

(Ui) The Semi-Benoni

I P4 84 2 P5 P--K4
(iv) Odds and Ends

P-'K4
1!Z2

127