I chose some thematic games in the Old Benoni which you can analyze to learn the opening in more detal. They are mostly by Malakhov, whose games I’ve used to study the opening. ♘White defends the pawn with 2. e3: Jozef Gerencer vs Vladimir Malakhov, Port San Giorgio Open 1998 ♘Playing the early Bg4: Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson vs Vladimir Malakhov, 2011 European Club Cup ♘Black plays the eventual e6: Thomas Engqvist vs Vladimir Malakhov, Budapest FS07 GM (1995) ♘Black plays the early e6: Evgeny Prokopchuk vs Vladimir Malakhov, RUS-ch U20 (1996) ♘Black plays the Na6-Nc7 maneuver: Wang Yue vs Vladimir Malakhov, 7th CHN-RUS Rapid (2010) ♘Black plays e5!: Kovacs vs Lothar Schmid, FRG-AUT (1953) ♘Na6-c7-b5 against white’s f4 e4 pawn storm: Volf Bergraser vs Lothar Schmid, 2nd World Correspondence Chess Championship (1956) ♘e6 at the perfect moment: Leif Ogaard vs Eugenio Torre, Haifa Olympiad (Men) (1976)
Am slightly surprised you have not included Karpov-Korchnoi here as that is arguably the most famous Old Benoni and is regarded as theoretically important. What I think you failed to stress in your otherwise excellent video is that playing the Old Benoni is essentially an invitation to a KID. Going in via this move order though restricts white's options, not only avoiding the Trompowsky and London but also popular systems like the Sämisch. Against that black's options are also restricted, so the traditional ...e5 and ...f5 plan usually needs to be put aside. In practice, black has to be prepared for 5 systems: 1. True Old Benoni, where white avoids playing c4 and will instead use that square for a knight. This is probably the most annoying system for black to face but as you mention going in via the 2...Nf6 move order usually pushes white towards one of the other options. 2. 4 pawns attack, where white plays an early f4. This is a dangerous system and you have to know a little theory as black. Once you know it though, the resulting positions are quite good for black. 3. Nf3 and Bf4 - this is what white players without much theory usually play although it is a respectable method in its own right. All of the advice in the video applies here. As long as black stays active though, it is not too problematic. 4. Averbakh system, where white plays Be2 and Bg5. This one seems harmless on the surface but carries some hidden kick. You need to know some specific counters here to avoid being positionally busted. 5. King's fianchetto, where white plays g3 and Bg2 - this is a positional method with many paths to equality. The e6 break is often the simplest approach here as e4 is often not a desirable move for white and the centre can be a little looser than in the #3 and #4 systems. If you do not like the positions after ...e6, switching to a Czech-style pawn structure with ...e5 is also very effective against the Bg2 setup. And that is basically all you need to know. There are a small number of critical variations and aside from that it goes more on themes and general plans. It is a great system that I can easily recommend after personally having played it over 40 years. It is nice of Hanging Pawns to have given it some loving - sometimes it feels like the lost d4 defence as it hardly ever gets a mention anywhere else.
@@zelandakhniteblade5436 btw there's an interesting line- 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Bg5 - transposes back into the trompowsky. ... or perhaps it's the trompowsky that transposes into the old benoni. either way play can continue.... 3... Ne4 4. h4 - trompowsky, raptor variation
@@ianrust3785 I've actually played this line in a tournament though sadly it is too long ago for me to remember the result of the game. 3...Qb6 is the main move there from what I remember, which often leads to quite a nice sac line where white has decent compensation and good practical chances. I can remember an old pre-computer book saying it was good for black and therefore white had to bring the bishop back to c1. I disagreed.
If you want to play the old benoni, one transposition you have to know is 2.e4!? going for the Smith-Morra gambit. Despite being theoretically a bit unsound, without any Sicilian or Morra knowledge the gambit is impossible to defend over the board against someone who knows his theory, especially with faster time controls.
Actually, since Esserman's fantastic book on the Smith Morra, I'm not sure the Morra is still considered unsound. Fortunately, I play the Morra from the White side so do I know the best lines for Black, but despite that I still feel pretty uncomfortable playing against it and have lost a few times.
Your legacy in the game is taking shape as one of the greatest chess educators of our time, Stjepan. You deserve to be a gm, based on good Karma alone. Thanks for making us 1200 rated chess hacks look a little better than we actually are.
I have just quite recently started playing chess and I was stuck around 450 elo until I found this channel. Since then I have rapidly advanced to 600 with 31 wins, 4 draws and 15 defeats. With this opening I was particularly successful. Thank you so very much Stjepan (probably I spelled that wrong, sorry), you are simply the best! P.S.: I highly recommend to learn this opening to any beginners, it's a near certainty that your opponent will blunder very early.
When you are playing black c5 is mandatory in every game, otherwise you dont get any counter. And the best part is that you can thrown in c5 versus anything white plays. E4 sure. D4 sure. C4 sure. May be against B4 you cant play it directly, though I haven't tried it yet because no one ever opens with B4.
This guy deserves a recognition. It's an awesome job what he does with his videos. Unbelievable good way of teaching. And those extra tips he gives us during the videos are the best. I wish you the best man. 👍👍👍🍺
As always very constructive video. I like your videos the most you are explaining every move with ideas, and take your time to show important sidelines. Thanks for the great work
The main problem with the old benoni is white has not occupied c4 with a pawn, so white can play a plan of placing a knight there which can create quite a lot of pressure for the black side. Further they can meet e6 with Nc3 and capture on d5 with a piece thus creating an outpost which is usually blocked by a pawn. I still play it sometimes but it's not advised.
Thank you so much for this video this one of the first openings I accidentally tried when I first started but never had the chance to understand.. glad you exist :)
Same recently started playing on chess.com and kept seeing the computer saying I was playing the Old Benoni defense (I wasn't doing it right, after pawn to I blocked it with horse than developed the bishop to take the piece back) finally decided to see how to improve what I was doing
I really appreciate this well-done introduction to my favorite response to 1.d4. While it sometimes looks like it transposes to a Dragon Sicilian in some lines, the differences are interesting.
I love playing the Old Benoni online! People are often simply unable to deal with the seemingly innocuous move c5. For whatever reason, they just don't know to play 2. d5. Black is already equalizing after some pretty intuitive second moves from White like Nf3 or c4. My favorite is when you catch some braindead London player playing 2. Bf4 on autopilot. After 2...cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd1 e5, Black is already better!
Awesome information on my favorite D4 Defense! I use to play this line and I didn't even know it's name! 💯!! I did 1....C5 as a pet joke line as a kid! This is awesome thanks so much! Chess power!!
Good solid video! I m trying to learn something new. I play the Budapest Gambit, but so far that hasn't proved to be very sound. Thx for this video. Keep on making these video's!
A lot of people don’t like this opening because objectively according to the engine it gives black a disadvantage, which is why it’s rare at the very top. But I think it’s a very rich opening for 99.99% of people, basically everyone except Magnus Carlson.
Instructive video as ever. I used to play the Wolga-gambit because I didn't like a hanging d6 pawn. After 1.d4 c5 2.e4!? leads to the fishy Morra-gambit which I also played a lot. See Mii commentary below !!
Thanks for a great video. I have recently suffered from one of my opponents playing Old Benoni against my Queen’s Gambit. Pretty strong respons. One thing I have noticed at 7:56, the rook is not lost. White can defend by Bb2, Qxb2, Nd2. Then the rook is covered by the queen. Otherwise great video, thanks!
Interesting idea, but I dont think the point quite holds. The rook might not be gone, but white would lose the bishop and the b4 pawn and be completly lost with the c5 pawn soon to follow. I dont think Hanging pawns missed this, but as it would still be hopeless for white, it might not have been worth mentioning. The computer would rather lose the rook many different ways than play Bb2, so saying "and the rook is lost" would be accurate with best play, or just any of the top 5 lines for white. Calling Bb2 a defence for white is perhaps not adviceble, even when it does preserve the rook. I also really liked the video.
@@oliverfoldager291 Hi Oliver, I agree that still it would be devastating for white. My point was that the rook is defendable. I analyzed the situation after black moves Qf6, looking at the rook. Stockfish 14.1 suggests 1. Nc3 Qxc3+ 2. Bd2 (blocking the check) …Qa3. White is down a pawn and a knight, Black two pawns, but black dominates with evaluation -5.3. The suggested defense with bishop wasn’t the best. Moving the knight would be better. However, in both variants white is (hopelesly) trying to avoid an already started apocalypse. My point was that it is possible to defend the rook.
"Its name has come from the Hebrew term “Ben Oni”, meaning son of sorrow, which depicts the defense perfectly." Huh, no wonder this opening kind of resonated with me. lol
11:24 if after takes takes black plays d5 the position becomes the exchange caro kann. If you play the caro kann this is another good option. Also if you take when they defend with c4 pawn the position becomes exchange slav, but its way worse than caro
With so many interlinking lines between the Benoni, Modern Defense and the Pirc Defense, how is one supposed to study and prepare? Do you have any suggestions (or a video) on how to use an analysis board to study? Or do we just memorize, play games and learn by doing? Great video as always and I really really appreciate your content!
I can't think of a better introduction to the Old Benoni. The only thing missing is that White can transpose to the Smith-Morra Gambit with 2.e4. I think it's a great way to avoid the positional and tactical subtleties of Benoni positions, and even Stockfish says it's okay.
This is so enriching and so meaningful. I love this defense against e4. I also like it because it is not common whatsoever and it is surprising for the opponent with so many variants. Thank you Stephian. Looking forward to the next video. #StephianIsTheNewNetflix. Keep sharing, mate.
Let me ask a question - on the splash screen, the video thumbnail - is there Pal Benko altered in some graphical suite? :) Who is it? The only old chess player that image i can recall is an image of Robert Fischer :)
@@trevbarlow9719 Apoogies, I thought it was clear enough. Minute 7 is the position I refer to. Where after you play a5 to attack b6, he plays bishop d2 to defend it.
At 8.00, white isnt losing his rook lol. He loses the knight. He gives the knight and then moves the bishop to kick away the queen. But yeah, he does lose a minor piece. Just not his rook
Agree. I use this trap a lot and it works often. He says it wins a rook and wins the game. But for me it wins a knight and their are pawns deep in my territory. I still lose one out of 10 games, even when I get this trap. It's the same trap for the Queen's Gambit accepted
This is not the old benoni as I have come to understand it. The main move order for which is 1.d4,c5 2.d5,e5 where white must acquiesce to a closed centre to try for advantage. Black virtually never fianchettos but uses the fact that Nf6 has not been played in comparison to the Czech benoni and plays Be7 in an attempt to play Bg5 if it can be engineered to trade off his bad dark squared bishop which is blocked in by his c5, d6, e5 pawn formation and potentially play f5 creating action in the centre.
@@safaricraft139 I know, but it's still a Czech benoni closed structure. Like after e6 (which is one of the main moves in the old benoni) the position simply becomes the Modern Benoni.
At 8:43 , what do you think is the continuation after white plays Be2? Edit : Nvm, I put on the engine. Its 4. d2 axb4 if 5. Bb4, then Nc6 attacking bishop then if he continues holding on and play 6. Ba3, then the old Benoni trap 'thing' with Qf6 (Just in case someone was looking for it)
Hey, I love your videos, but just a word of advice: you might consider mixing up your pronoun use, or simply using “she” or “they” rather than “he” all the time. I’m sure it’s a difficult habit to break, as chess is of course a male-dominated sport, but you risk alienate non-male players. Just a thought; again, your videos are incredibly helpful!
I chose some thematic games in the Old Benoni which you can analyze to learn the opening in more detal. They are mostly by Malakhov, whose games I’ve used to study the opening.
♘White defends the pawn with 2. e3: Jozef Gerencer vs Vladimir Malakhov, Port San Giorgio Open 1998
♘Playing the early Bg4: Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson vs Vladimir Malakhov, 2011 European Club Cup
♘Black plays the eventual e6: Thomas Engqvist vs Vladimir Malakhov, Budapest FS07 GM (1995)
♘Black plays the early e6: Evgeny Prokopchuk vs Vladimir Malakhov, RUS-ch U20 (1996)
♘Black plays the Na6-Nc7 maneuver: Wang Yue vs Vladimir Malakhov, 7th CHN-RUS Rapid (2010)
♘Black plays e5!: Kovacs vs Lothar Schmid, FRG-AUT (1953)
♘Na6-c7-b5 against white’s f4 e4 pawn storm: Volf Bergraser vs Lothar Schmid, 2nd World Correspondence Chess Championship (1956)
♘e6 at the perfect moment: Leif Ogaard vs Eugenio Torre, Haifa Olympiad (Men) (1976)
Am slightly surprised you have not included Karpov-Korchnoi here as that is arguably the most famous Old Benoni and is regarded as theoretically important. What I think you failed to stress in your otherwise excellent video is that playing the Old Benoni is essentially an invitation to a KID. Going in via this move order though restricts white's options, not only avoiding the Trompowsky and London but also popular systems like the Sämisch. Against that black's options are also restricted, so the traditional ...e5 and ...f5 plan usually needs to be put aside.
In practice, black has to be prepared for 5 systems:
1. True Old Benoni, where white avoids playing c4 and will instead use that square for a knight. This is probably the most annoying system for black to face but as you mention going in via the 2...Nf6 move order usually pushes white towards one of the other options.
2. 4 pawns attack, where white plays an early f4. This is a dangerous system and you have to know a little theory as black. Once you know it though, the resulting positions are quite good for black.
3. Nf3 and Bf4 - this is what white players without much theory usually play although it is a respectable method in its own right. All of the advice in the video applies here. As long as black stays active though, it is not too problematic.
4. Averbakh system, where white plays Be2 and Bg5. This one seems harmless on the surface but carries some hidden kick. You need to know some specific counters here to avoid being positionally busted.
5. King's fianchetto, where white plays g3 and Bg2 - this is a positional method with many paths to equality. The e6 break is often the simplest approach here as e4 is often not a desirable move for white and the centre can be a little looser than in the #3 and #4 systems. If you do not like the positions after ...e6, switching to a Czech-style pawn structure with ...e5 is also very effective against the Bg2 setup.
And that is basically all you need to know. There are a small number of critical variations and aside from that it goes more on themes and general plans. It is a great system that I can easily recommend after personally having played it over 40 years. It is nice of Hanging Pawns to have given it some loving - sometimes it feels like the lost d4 defence as it hardly ever gets a mention anywhere else.
@@zelandakhniteblade5436 btw there's an interesting line-
1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Bg5 - transposes back into the trompowsky. ... or perhaps it's the trompowsky that transposes into the old benoni. either way
play can continue....
3... Ne4 4. h4 - trompowsky, raptor variation
@@ianrust3785 I've actually played this line in a tournament though sadly it is too long ago for me to remember the result of the game. 3...Qb6 is the main move there from what I remember, which often leads to quite a nice sac line where white has decent compensation and good practical chances. I can remember an old pre-computer book saying it was good for black and therefore white had to bring the bishop back to c1. I disagreed.
Besides everything you deserve an award for most creative tumbnails
So gorgeous
So true
If you want to play the old benoni, one transposition you have to know is 2.e4!? going for the Smith-Morra gambit. Despite being theoretically a bit unsound, without any Sicilian or Morra knowledge the gambit is impossible to defend over the board against someone who knows his theory, especially with faster time controls.
Thanks for mentioning this! I completely forgot to bring that up!
Actually, since Esserman's fantastic book on the Smith Morra, I'm not sure the Morra is still considered unsound. Fortunately, I play the Morra from the White side so do I know the best lines for Black, but despite that I still feel pretty uncomfortable playing against it and have lost a few times.
@@Kuasm at the same time, of you are a Smith morra gambit player, you are not often going to play dr i think
@@HangingPawns
Could you please explain this or make a video on it?
Your legacy in the game is taking shape as one of the greatest chess educators of our time, Stjepan. You deserve to be a gm, based on good Karma alone. Thanks for making us 1200 rated chess hacks look a little better than we actually are.
you are not selfish you really give all information all tricks it is rare you're an angel carry on hanging pawns you're the best
I played my first ever “perfect game” thanks to your training. You’re a blessing. Thanks so much
I love that every time you say ´´Benoni,, my automaticly generated subtitles put it as ´´Banana,,
I have just quite recently started playing chess and I was stuck around 450 elo until I found this channel. Since then I have rapidly advanced to 600 with 31 wins, 4 draws and 15 defeats.
With this opening I was particularly successful. Thank you so very much Stjepan (probably I spelled that wrong, sorry), you are simply the best!
P.S.: I highly recommend to learn this opening to any beginners, it's a near certainty that your opponent will blunder very early.
C5 is a magic move. You can use for e4 or d4 and get positions very differents with risks in both of them but in compensation a dynamic game.
When you are playing black c5 is mandatory in every game, otherwise you dont get any counter. And the best part is that you can thrown in c5 versus anything white plays. E4 sure. D4 sure. C4 sure. May be against B4 you cant play it directly, though I haven't tried it yet because no one ever opens with B4.
Forgive me in case I made any mistakes:
The Old Benoni
1. d4 c5
2. dxc5 e6
(2. e3 Nf6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. O-O (5. dxc5 Na6 8. Bxa6 bxa6 8. O-O Bb7) …O-O 8. c4 cxd4 9. exd4 d5)
(2. c3 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 a6 5. Bxf6 (5. Bh4 b6 6. e3 Bb7) …Qxf6 6. e4 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bd3 d6 10. O-O b6 11… Bb7)
(2. d5 d6 (2…c6 3. c4 (3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 g6)) 3. e4 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O a6 (… Bg4 8. Ne2 Bxe2 9. Qxe2 Na6 10. Nc4 Nf7 11. a4 a6 12. a5 Nd7 13. Na4 Nb5 14. c3 Qc7 15. Bf4) 8. a4 Bg4 [“Proper” Old Benoni])
(2. d5 Nf6 3. c4 (3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 g6) (3… b5 [Benko Gambit]) (3… e5 4. Nc3 d6 [Closed Benoni]) …e6 4. Nc3 exd5 (… g6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Nf3 O-O 8. Be2 Na6 9. O-O Nc7 10. h3 a6 11. a4 Rb8) 5. cxd5 d6 (…Bd6 [Snake Benoni])
(2. Nf3 Nf6 (2…cxd4 3. Nxd4 (3. Qxf3 Nc6) …d5 4. g3 e4 5. Nb3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Be6 7. O-O) 3. d5 d6 4. Nc3 g6)
3. b4 a5
(3. Be3 Na6 4. Nc3 Nxc5 5. Bxc5 Bxc5 6… d5)
(3. e4 Bxc5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6)
(3. Nc3 Bxc5 4. Ne4 Nf6 5. Nxc5 (5. Nxf6 Qxf6) …Qa5+ 6. Qd2 Qxc5)
4. c3 axb4
(4. a3 axb4 5. a3xb4 Rxa1)
(4. bxa5 Qxa5+ 5. Bd2 Qxc5)
(4. b5 Bxc5 (5… b6 6…Bb7)
5. cxb4 Qf6 (6…Qxh1) [Old Benoni Trap]
Thank you for doing this! 🙏
Thank you for making this Benoni video series free for us!
This guy deserves a recognition. It's an awesome job what he does with his videos. Unbelievable good way of teaching. And those extra tips he gives us during the videos are the best. I wish you the best man. 👍👍👍🍺
I like hearing the word “Benoni”
I don't know why your comment made me laugh out loud alone in my room hahahaha
Yes, it's a nice woody sort of word; most reassuring!
Benonee-san
Best chess channel on UA-cam by far!
As always very constructive video. I like your videos the most you are explaining every move with ideas, and take your time to show important sidelines.
Thanks for the great work
The main problem with the old benoni is white has not occupied c4 with a pawn, so white can play a plan of placing a knight there which can create quite a lot of pressure for the black side. Further they can meet e6 with Nc3 and capture on d5 with a piece thus creating an outpost which is usually blocked by a pawn.
I still play it sometimes but it's not advised.
really enjoyed this - great intro to dealing with old benoni in blitz games
i love this opening so much its basically queens gambit for black
Thank you so much for this video this one of the first openings I accidentally tried when I first started but never had the chance to understand.. glad you exist :)
Same recently started playing on chess.com and kept seeing the computer saying I was playing the Old Benoni defense (I wasn't doing it right, after pawn to I blocked it with horse than developed the bishop to take the piece back) finally decided to see how to improve what I was doing
I really appreciate this well-done introduction to my favorite response to 1.d4. While it sometimes looks like it transposes to a Dragon Sicilian in some lines, the differences are interesting.
I will try this one this Thursday on a tournament... been a fan of c5 move and now can do it more often hehe
I love playing the Old Benoni online! People are often simply unable to deal with the seemingly innocuous move c5. For whatever reason, they just don't know to play 2. d5. Black is already equalizing after some pretty intuitive second moves from White like Nf3 or c4. My favorite is when you catch some braindead London player playing 2. Bf4 on autopilot. After 2...cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd1 e5, Black is already better!
A wonderful guide into the old benoni. Thank you!
Awesome information on my favorite D4 Defense! I use to play this line and I didn't even know it's name! 💯!! I did 1....C5 as a pet joke line as a kid! This is awesome thanks so much! Chess power!!
Good solid video! I m trying to learn something new. I play the Budapest Gambit, but so far that hasn't proved to be very sound. Thx for this video. Keep on making these video's!
Fantastic! Definitely my favourite response against d4
20:26 main line and your welcome
A lot of people don’t like this opening because objectively according to the engine it gives black a disadvantage, which is why it’s rare at the very top. But I think it’s a very rich opening for 99.99% of people, basically everyone except Magnus Carlson.
Excellent video, thank you! I'm going to try this as black for a while :)
I got hit with the old Benoni today. So now that I’ve discovered it, I find you’ve already covered it! Thank you!
In which universe did you lose from the old Benoni?
@@21LeonidasZ some people suck at chess. i suck at chess. do you have a problem with that
@@contextinvideos My comment had to with his name and profile picture (Elon Tusk from Rick and Morty).
@@21LeonidasZ ohh thats pretty sly lol nice
Great video! I think I will give the Old Benoni a try first and see how it goes.
Your videos is great material for studying
Thank you very much, your videos are clear, easy to understand and informative. please consider a King's Gambit one!
Nice explained!
Hi, very interesting video; There is also the English Anti-BenOni variant: 1.d4; c5 2.c4; cxd4
I'm struggling with defense against d4 opening, I am going to try the benoni, this is usper useful! thanks
Instructive video as ever.
I used to play the Wolga-gambit because I didn't like a hanging d6 pawn.
After 1.d4 c5 2.e4!? leads to the fishy Morra-gambit which I also played a lot.
See Mii commentary below !!
Excellent vid, thanks.
I love this opening
Thanks for a great video. I have recently suffered from one of my opponents playing Old Benoni against my Queen’s Gambit. Pretty strong respons. One thing I have noticed at 7:56, the rook is not lost. White can defend by Bb2, Qxb2, Nd2. Then the rook is covered by the queen. Otherwise great video, thanks!
Interesting idea, but I dont think the point quite holds. The rook might not be gone, but white would lose the bishop and the b4 pawn and be completly lost with the c5 pawn soon to follow. I dont think Hanging pawns missed this, but as it would still be hopeless for white, it might not have been worth mentioning. The computer would rather lose the rook many different ways than play Bb2, so saying "and the rook is lost" would be accurate with best play, or just any of the top 5 lines for white. Calling Bb2 a defence for white is perhaps not adviceble, even when it does preserve the rook. I also really liked the video.
@@oliverfoldager291 Hi Oliver, I agree that still it would be devastating for white. My point was that the rook is defendable. I analyzed the situation after black moves Qf6, looking at the rook. Stockfish 14.1 suggests 1. Nc3 Qxc3+ 2. Bd2 (blocking the check) …Qa3. White is down a pawn and a knight, Black two pawns, but black dominates with evaluation -5.3.
The suggested defense with bishop wasn’t the best. Moving the knight would be better. However, in both variants white is (hopelesly) trying to avoid an already started apocalypse. My point was that it is possible to defend the rook.
Great video!
Awesome video!!!! 👍 Thank you....
Good video as always
But i wanted to know any book recommendations on old Benoni
thanks for the outstanding lesson!👍
"Its name has come from the Hebrew term “Ben Oni”, meaning son of sorrow, which depicts the defense perfectly."
Huh, no wonder this opening kind of resonated with me. lol
Hello thanks a lot for this great video, with excellent explaination.. 👍👍👍👍
could you add chapters to videos like this? itd be easier to skip around when studying variations
11:24 if after takes takes black plays d5 the position becomes the exchange caro kann. If you play the caro kann this is another good option. Also if you take when they defend with c4 pawn the position becomes exchange slav, but its way worse than caro
at 13.14 is like a rare Saragossa Opening
Really good video.. Thank you
With so many interlinking lines between the Benoni, Modern Defense and the Pirc Defense, how is one supposed to study and prepare? Do you have any suggestions (or a video) on how to use an analysis board to study? Or do we just memorize, play games and learn by doing?
Great video as always and I really really appreciate your content!
I can't think of a better introduction to the Old Benoni. The only thing missing is that White can transpose to the Smith-Morra Gambit with 2.e4. I think it's a great way to avoid the positional and tactical subtleties of Benoni positions, and even Stockfish says it's okay.
This is so enriching and so meaningful. I love this defense against e4. I also like it because it is not common whatsoever and it is surprising for the opponent with so many variants. Thank you Stephian. Looking forward to the next video. #StephianIsTheNewNetflix. Keep sharing, mate.
Against e4 it’s the Sicilian not the Benoni
Thanks for vid
Curious why you say Qd4 12:00 is absurd though? It seemed very natural for white also stockfish 13 suggests it
could u pls analyze what after d4 e5 Be3
12:03 could anyone explain after Bxa6 why Qa5 is not better than taking Ba6 with the b7 pawn?
Its better as it allows the light square bishop to be developed, rather than having your queen out with White's forces trying to rush the king side
@@premjanipati1194 but surely doubled a pawns is just... Bad?
Hey Stefan, Would you please make videos on the Dutch Defense first because I have a tournament to play and need that on my opening repotire
The recording schedule is voted for by the patrons, so I don't really have a say:D The next opening will be the QGD, and then the London System.
benoni is more solid than dutch defence in dutch defence i advise you to kill his two knights
Let me ask a question - on the splash screen, the video thumbnail - is there Pal Benko altered in some graphical suite? :) Who is it? The only old chess player that image i can recall is an image of Robert Fischer :)
Quick detour into 2. f5 for black :)
Mr. Hanging pawns do you prefer the Benko or Benoni?????
Is this a positional or aggressive opening? I'm looking for something solid and assymetrical against d4 in tournaments. Thank you!
After Qf6 white can save the rook, but he needs to give up the knight.
or the bishop
At 4:25 why not e5? The engine actually says it's better!
what do you do when after pawn a5 he plays bishop d2?
If you expect an answer, it helps to give a timestamp from the video.
@@trevbarlow9719 Apoogies, I thought it was clear enough. Minute 7 is the position I refer to. Where after you play a5 to attack b6, he plays bishop d2 to defend it.
what if white defens pawn b4 with bishop a3?
Shouldn't be too different: you follow with 4…axb4 5. Bxb4 Na6
Sample games for the old benoni plss
OLD BENONI STARTS AFTER 26 MINUTES
At 8.00, white isnt losing his rook lol. He loses the knight. He gives the knight and then moves the bishop to kick away the queen. But yeah, he does lose a minor piece. Just not his rook
Agree. I use this trap a lot and it works often.
He says it wins a rook and wins the game.
But for me it wins a knight and their are pawns deep in my territory. I still lose one out of 10 games, even when I get this trap.
It's the same trap for the Queen's Gambit accepted
I just played against this opening but they didn't know what they were doing on move 5
16:05, if he pushes
There is also f5 after d5
4.27 "there are no better moves on the board" is nonsense. Fritz 16 uses Qa4+ every time.
Sorry, Qa5+
So basically the Benoni is queens gambit with black pieces
Main move 15:08
18:34 - D6 is the old way to play the Old Benoni. So is it the... Very Old Benoni? :D
I just played this defense without knowing 💀
This is not the old benoni as I have come to understand it. The main move order for which is 1.d4,c5 2.d5,e5 where white must acquiesce to a closed centre to try for advantage. Black virtually never fianchettos but uses the fact that Nf6 has not been played in comparison to the Czech benoni and plays Be7 in an attempt to play Bg5 if it can be engineered to trade off his bad dark squared bishop which is blocked in by his c5, d6, e5 pawn formation and potentially play f5 creating action in the centre.
the pawn is hanging
danke
Why did'nt you talk abiut d4 c5 d5 e5 wich is the main line of this idea, because he want a fasr f5
Because that is the Czech Benoni. A transposition. Same reason i didn't go over the transpositions to the Benko and the Modern
@@HangingPawns in the real czech benoni, the knight is already on f6, and f5 come later
@@safaricraft139 I know, but it's still a Czech benoni closed structure. Like after e6 (which is one of the main moves in the old benoni) the position simply becomes the Modern Benoni.
@@HangingPawns oh ok. So you will talk about when you will talk about the czech benoni? Thanks
@@safaricraft139 Yup. Video out today:)
My first game after watching this video and white goes Knight h3 LOOL, all this learning for nothinghaha
Bro can i get your lichess ifd
It is in the description of the video.
At 12:00 you call Qd4 absurd. It's as good or better than Bxa6 according to my engines. How do you justify calling the move absurd?
b4? very suspicious.
Confusing....your topic is old benoni but you keep mentioning and doing new benoni
Sicilian najdorf isn't adviced, old benoni isn't adviced, tennison gambit isn't adviced.. i don't care xD
At 8:43 , what do you think is the continuation after white plays Be2?
Edit : Nvm, I put on the engine.
Its 4. d2 axb4 if 5. Bb4, then Nc6 attacking bishop then if he continues holding on and play 6. Ba3, then the old Benoni trap 'thing' with Qf6 (Just in case someone was looking for it)
Great anti-london system. The blacks would be disoriented
Hey, I love your videos, but just a word of advice: you might consider mixing up your pronoun use, or simply using “she” or “they” rather than “he” all the time. I’m sure it’s a difficult habit to break, as chess is of course a male-dominated sport, but you risk alienate non-male players. Just a thought; again, your videos are incredibly helpful!
😂😂😂😂
or "White" can play
Too little time spent on the main response 2.d5. Who cares about the names of the variations?
Wait Grufeld position, isn't it a panov position 🤔?