Main
Date: 30 Jun 2005 09:00:10
From: Will Kemp
Subject: Benko Gambit 4.b3
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.b3

I have maybe 5 or 6 books on the Benko, plus BCO2, MCO14, and a few other
references.

4.b3 almost never gets any analysis, presumably because it is not even
worthy of comment.

However, I don't think this is a bad move, and it might be every bit as good
as more common 4th move alternatives by White.

By playing 4.b3, White effectively puts a damper on all of Black's thematic
queenside play. Black will not get open-file pressure on the a- and
b-pawns. While White's pawn play is now stagnant on the queenside, he does
not have any weaknesses over there. Normally, White's play is not on the
queenside, anyway, but in the center and on the kingside. White gives up
none of his thematic play in these areas if he takes a timeout to play 4.b3
first. Black's queenside play is also stagnant on the queenside, but he
really has nothing to fall back on. With this pawn structure, Black lives
or dies on the queenside.

As best I can tell, 4.b3 is one of those "high-class waiting moves.

I cannot find many GM games with 4.b3. Masera - Benko, 1971 (I think) is
probably the "model game" for this variation, but White played like a Class
C player in this game so it is not very instructive.

I would appreciate comments or gamescores.

Thanks






 
Date: 02 Jul 2005 06:01:31
From: Philip Feeley
Subject: Re: Benko Gambit 4.b3
Will Kemp wrote:
> I would appreciate comments or gamescores.
>
> Thanks
>
>
There are three games on the chessgames.com website, all black wins:

4...bxc4 Christian Manley vs Jan Rosenberg, 2001 0-1
4...g6 Carl Christian Aarnes vs Jens Lunnan Hjort, 2001 0-1
4...b4 Aldo Muradore vs L Nedimovic, 2002 0-1


 
Date: 01 Jul 2005 00:35:55
From: EdmondX
Subject: Re: Benko Gambit 4.b3
If Black wants to achieve the "usual" ...g6, ...Bg7, ...d6 setup he
simply plays 4... bxc4 (or possibly 4... b4) and then continues a
normal Benko Gambit Declined fashion.

Regards
Edmond



 
Date: 30 Jun 2005 20:57:09
From: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?Claus-J=FCrgen_Heigl?=
Subject: Re: Benko Gambit 4.b3
Will Kemp wrote:
> 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.b3
> I would appreciate comments or gamescores.

I just saw there is a brand new Topalov game with this line. May be this
helps.

[Event "Vicente Bonil op 29th"]
[Site "Albox"]
[Date "2005.06.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sanchez Lopez,Sergio"]
[Black "Topalov,Veselin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "A57"]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.b3 e6 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.Nf3 d5 7.e3 bxc4 8.bxc4 Bd6
9.Nc3 Bc7 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Ba3 Nb4 13.Nb5 Ba5 14.Ne5 a6 15.Nc3
Qd6 16.f4 Bb7
17.Qa4 Bb6 18.Rad1 Qe7 19.Bf3 Rad8 20.Rf2 a5 21.Rfd2 d4 22.exd4 cxd4
23.Nb5 Bxf3 24.Nxf3 d3+
25.Kf1 Ng4 26.Re1 Rxf4 27.c5 Qxc5 0-1

Claus-Juergen


  
Date: 30 Jun 2005 14:28:41
From: Will Kemp
Subject: Re: Benko Gambit 4.b3
Thank you for the game.

I do believe Black's only hope is to play in Benoni fashion with an early
...e6 break. This game would seem to support that idea.

I don't think Black can get away with the "usual" ...g6, ...Bg7, ...d6
moves.

Regards
Will