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Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line

ECO code
A57
Moves
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About this variation

White declines with 4. Nf3, keeping the tension and developing. It avoids the long-term pressure of the accepted lines.

The main way to decline the Benko is 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3. White does not take the pawn and develops instead, keeping the option of cxb5 later and avoiding the long-term pressure Black gets in the accepted lines. Black's main replies are 4...g6, 4...b4 and 4...bxc4.

After 4...g6, White often plays 5. cxb5 a6 6. b6, returning the pawn to break up Black's queenside and avoid the open files. After 4...b4, Black gains queenside space and the game becomes a closed, maneuvering fight. After 4...bxc4, Black opens the b-file and White regains the pawn with Nc3 and e4.

White's plans include Nc3, e4 and Bd3 or Be2, building a strong center, and the e5 break when the pieces are ready. White aims to show that Black's ...b5 has weakened the queenside without giving enough in return.

Black's ideas depend on the line. With ...b4, Black aims for ...e6 or ...d6 and ...g6, building a solid position with queenside space. With ...g6 and ...Bg7, Black keeps the Benko set-up and waits for White to decide.

The Benko Declined leads to less forcing positions than the accepted lines, and it suits White players who want to avoid the long-term pressure of the gambit.

This line suits White players who prefer to keep material level and fight in the center. Black players should know how to meet it, since many club players decline the gambit to avoid theory.

One concrete line is 4...g6 5. cxb5 a6 6. b6 d6 7. Nc3 Nbd7, when Black usually wins the b6 pawn back later with ...Nxb6 or ...Qxb6, but the a- and b-files are less open than in the accepted lines. White aims for Be2, O-O and Nd2-c4 to put pressure on d6.

It is one of the main lines of the Benko Gambit.

Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line statistics

The Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line was reached in 11,499 master games (<0.1% of all master games), and White scored 55% from there. On Lichess it comes up in <0.1% of games, most often among players rated 2201–2400 (<0.1%).

Master games

11,499

<0.1% of games between players rated 2500+

Club games on Lichess

6,918

<0.1% of games between players rated up to 2400

White wins Draws Black wins

How often it comes up, by rating

  • 1401–1600 <0.1%
  • 1601–1800 <0.1%
  • 1801–2000 <0.1%
  • 2001–2200 <0.1%
  • 2201–2400 <0.1%

Most common next moves in master games

MoveGamesPlayedResults
4... g63,68332%
4... bxc42,44521%
4... b41,96917%
4... Bb71,63714%
4... e68027.0%

Famous players with the most games here

  • Daniel Naroditsky 12 games

Master games from the Chessmont database (CC BY-SA 4.0). Club games from the Lichess open database.

Other Benko Gambit variations