Modern Benoni
A70you play blackGive White a centre pawn on d5, take the queenside majority and the dark-square diagonal, and race: ...b5 and ...c4 vs White's e5 push.
The road to the tabiya
Step through the move order. Amber moves carry an idea — read them, don't memorise them.
Why this matters
Give White a centre pawn on d5, take the queenside majority and the dark-square diagonal, and race: ...b5 and ...c4 vs White's e5 push.
The structure: Benoni (d5 wedge vs queenside majority)
White: d5, e4 and more space in the centre; Black: c5/d6 chain, a queenside 3-vs-2 majority and the fianchetto. White's break is e5 or f4–f5; Black's is ...b5 (and ...c4). Dark squares (e5, c5, d4) are the strategic currency.
Trades: yes and no
Trade White's c4 knight (it hits d6) with ...Ba6xc4 gladly. Trade your f6 knight for White's dark-squared bishop when it removes the e5 break's support. Never trade the g7 bishop unless forced. Don't play ...cxd4-style releases that turn the majority into a d-file for White.
Motifs to watch
- ...b5 pawn break — often prepared by ...Rb8, ...a6
- ...Ba6 trading the c4 knight that attacks d6
- White's e5 push: count attackers and check ...dxe5 f4 tricks
- ...Nh5–f4 or ...Ng4 kingside jumps when White's bishop leaves e3
Go deeper
- Lichess opening page: Modern Benoni — Master games from the classical setup.
- Wikipedia: Modern Benoni — Structure, plans and history.