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Benko Gambit: 3 quick facts

  • The Benko Gambit is named after Hungarian-American chess player Pal Benko and is also known as the Volga Gambit. It’s a popular gambit for Black that can arise from the Benoni Defense.
  • In this opening, Black sacrifices a pawn early in exchange for fast development and strong pressure on White’s queenside. Meanwhile, White is frequently forced into a defensive position.
  • Although the Benko isn’t a grandmaster mainstay, it’s occasionally chosen by world-class players.

Benko Gambit: The moves

Here are the moves for the Benko Gambit:

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

A gif showing the opening moves for the Benko Gambit: 1. White’s d-pawn moves to d4 and Black’s knight moves to f6. 2. White’s c-pawn moves to c4 and Black’s c-pawn moves to c5. 3. White’s d-pawn moves to d5 and Black’s b-pawn moves to b5.

Play the long game

The Benko Gambit is a great choice for positional, strategic players who enjoy straightforward openings.

If you’re looking for more openings, check out our guide featuring over 30 options for every skill level!