Old Benoni (A43, 1.d4 c5)

[lucioperca]

Hi,
So I have come up against the Old Benoni (A43, 1.d4 c5) quite a bit lately - results-wise, it is one of my worse lines as White. Trying to play a "transpose" move like 2.e3 has not been great - usually there is an exchange on d4 then g6/Bg7. 2.Nf3 does not look good either for the same reasons.

Looking at the ECO codes, it seems 2.d5 is the standard way to go, but the continuations with the pawn on d5 do not look appealing.

I don't think "Zuke 'Em" discusses 1..c5 (1st edition anyway).

Does anyone know of an alternative setup[s] to 1..c5 that lead[s] to an equalish middlegame at least?

Thanks!

[Ton van Bladel]

(03-15-2010 11:18 PM)lucioperca Wrote:  Hi,
So I have come up against the Old Benoni (A43, 1.d4 c5) quite a bit lately - results-wise, it is one of my worse lines as White. Trying to play a "transpose" move like 2.e3 has not been great - usually there is an exchange on d4 then g6/Bg7. 2.Nf3 does not look good either for the same reasons.

Looking at the ECO codes, it seems 2.d5 is the standard way to go, but the continuations with the pawn on d5 do not look appealing.

I don't think "Zuke 'Em" discusses 1..c5 (1st edition anyway).

Does anyone know of an alternative setup[s] to 1..c5 that lead[s] to an equalish middlegame at least?

Thanks!

I don't see the problem. They just transpose in 2. .., c5 or 3. .., c5 lines
You can download the part of my database that refers to those positions.
The format is Chessbase.
http://rempengballenmonster.posterous.co...bladelbase
I will leave it there for a week or so.
Good luck

[Rudel]

Lucioperca, what do you play against the immediate ...g6 defenses?

Here is one option against the old Benoni:
1. d4 c5
2. e3 cxd4
3. exd4 g7
4. Nf3 Bg6
5. Bd3 Nc6 [...Nf6 will transpose]
6. 0-0! Nf6
(Note that taking the pawn gives White a tremendous initiative: 6...Nxd4 7.Nxd4 Nxd4 8.Bxg6 and both 8...Qb6 9.Bd3 Bxb2 10.Bxb2 Qxb2 11.Nd2 Nf6 12.Qf3 and 8...Bxf2+ 9.Rxf2 hxg6 10.Qf3 Nf6 11.Bg5 promise White great play)
7. Re1 0-0
8. c3

And White's QB should become quite useful soon. After 8...d6, 9.Bg5! is quite good, threatening to give White total control over the center light squares. After 8...d5 9.Bf4, Black has no good place to put his QB and White maintains a mild advantage.

[lucioperca]

Hi, thanks for your replies.

I went over your suggested lines last night and will try them out the next time[s] I come up against 1..c5.

I have actually reached the 5.Bd3 Nc6 position a couple of times before, but in those games I worsened my position by trying to maintain the pawn/d4 rather than allow exchanges.

As for immediate ..g6 defenses, currently I try to exchange dark bishops via the a1-h8 diagonal - results have been mixed. I may start trying to reach the same goal via the c1-h6 diagonal, but I need to retool my rep. first...

[Rudel]

(03-16-2010 12:56 AM)Ton van Bladel Wrote:  I don't see the problem. They just transpose in 2. .., c5 or 3. .., c5 lines
You can download the part of my database that refers to those positions.
The format is Chessbase.
http://rempengballenmonster.posterous.co...bladelbase
I will leave it there for a week or so.
Good luck

That's a good point. The notes to Black 3rd move in my Modern Benoni chapter look like what should end up getting with an Old Benoni as well.
Thanks for pointing this out.