Openings 1.d4 Nf6: Indian defenses
Benko Gambit (3...b5): Accepted, Declined and Stats by Rating
3...b5 gives a pawn for lasting pressure on the a- and b-files. After 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 Black fianchettoes, castles and puts the rooks on a8 and b8. The pressure does not go away when pieces are traded, which is why Benko players like endgames.
A57Benko Gambit
Games from this position (1600–1999): 5,117
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44% | 2,248 | ||
| 27% | 1,393 | ||
| 12% | 606 | ||
| 9% | 443 | ||
| 2% | 118 | ||
| 2% | 92 | ||
| 1% | 70 | ||
| 0.9% | 48 | ||
| 0.6% | 32 | ||
| 0.4% | 20 |
Plans for both sides
White
- The main line is 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6, then Nc3 and e4; after ...Bxf1 Kxf1 the king walks to g2 behind g3.
- 5.b6 gives the pawn back at once; 5.e3 keeps it for now and aims for a quieter game.
- 4.Nf3 or 4.a4 declines. 4.a4 hits b5 and invites ...b4, which keeps the queenside closed.
Black
- ...Bxa6, ...g6, ...Bg7, ...d6 and ...O-O, then ...Qa5 and the rooks on a8 and b8.
- Trade pieces happily: the pressure on a2 and b2 stays.
- The Blumenfeld (2...e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5) is a cousin: Black gives the b-pawn to build a big center with ...e5 or ...d5.
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Benko Gambit at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 47<0.1% | 4.b340% | |
| 1200–1599 | 763<0.1% | 4.b342% | |
| 1600–1999 | 5,117<0.1% | 4.cxb544% | |
| 2000+ | 7,2760.4% | 4.cxb571% | |
| All | 13k<0.1% | 4.cxb557% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
White gives up castling to keep the pawn; the king goes to g2 after g3.
428 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 8% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 6.Nc3 d6 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 g6White keeps the b5 pawn for now and decides later between a4 and bxa6.
209 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 8% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7White gives the pawn back at once to keep the a-file closed and avoid the usual Benko pressure.
355 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 5% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 Qxb6White develops first and usually takes on b5 a move later.
68 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 59%, 15% were drawn, Black won 26%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 g6Black gives the b-pawn for a big center after 5.dxe6 fxe6 and ...d5. It is rare, with about a hundred games here.
103 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 41%, 7% were drawn, Black won 52%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5
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At club level
At 2000+ about seven in ten take the pawn with 4.cxb5, and Black still does well: White makes only about 50% after 3...b5 there. Below 1200 the Benko is rare. After 4...a6, only about half of White players take again with 5.bxa6.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6
1.d4 Nf6
- King’s Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
- Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
- Old Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6
- Trompowsky Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5
- Budapest Gambit
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5