Welcome to my Benko Gambit games page!

On this page I display links to my chess games in which I played either side of the Benko Gambit. The games include analysis and diagrams. I will place the actual games on separate pages listed by the opponent played. (Click HERE to learn more about Pal Benko, whom this opening is named after.) The former soviets call this opening the Volga Gambit, Benko Variation.

In the Benko Gambit Black usually sacrifices a pawn on the Queenside for an attack there. White can accept or decline this sacrifice. Either way, White usually attacks on the Kingside. Often, in the gambit accepted lines, White is so busy defending his Queenside that he never gets an attack going on the Kingside. The move order may vary, but the typical Benko Gambit starts something like this:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5

Benko Gambit After 3... b5

If White accepts the gambit then play will usually continue 4.cxb5 a6

Benko Gambit after 4... a6

Here Black offers a second pawn. White may accept by capturing on a6 or decline, usually by playing 5. b6. The gambit accepted line would then continue 5. bxa6 Bxa6.

Benko Gambit after 5... Bxa6

Black will continue developing and end up with a set up that looks something like the diagram below.

Benko Gambit after 13... Rfb8

Black has given up a pawn for pressure along the a and b files and along the a1 to h8 diagonal. White's pawns on the a and b files are now targets for Black to attack. This is considered a positional gambit rather than a tactical one.

A list of games in the Benko Gambit is below.

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