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In this month’s update we take a fresh look at Modern Benoni lines that are often reached via the move order 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5, which could form part of a Nimzo-Indian player’s repertoire.
Even though the Modern Benoni remains playable, many of the lines have suffered at the hands of modern engines. It has become increasingly apparent over the years that there are many concrete lines in which Black walks a narrow path before reaching a holdable position, and this approach doesn’t appeal to many players. On the other hand, if you have a strong memory, and you choose your lines and opponents wisely, the Modern Benoni could still be a useful weapon.

Download PGN of May ’25 Nimzo and Benoni games

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Modern Benoni: 6 Nf3 g6 7 Bf4 [A61]

6 Nf3 g6 7 Bf4 Bg7 8 h3 0-0 9 e3 Na6:

The 7 Bf4 lines remains one of the most promising options available to White against the Benoni. After 7...Bg7 8 h3 0-0 9 e3, 9...Na6 has become Black’s most popular choice. In recent years, 10 Bxa6!? has gained considerable interest, and there’s no sign of this abating. This bishop-for-knight exchange is hardly ever seen in the Modern Benoni because Black’s dynamic chances based on the half-open b-file, some light-squared control and the bishop pair is normally deemed to be more than adequate compensation for the compromised pawn structure. However, the fact that numerous grandmasters have played this move can’t be ignored, and engines approve of it too. See Volkov, M - Zakhartsov, V for an update on this key line.


Modern Benoni: 6 e4 g6 7 Nf3 a6 [A70]

6 e4 g6 7 Nf3 a6 8 Be2!:

7...a6 started to become popular in the 1990s as a way of preparing...Bg4 and avoiding the Modern Main Line following 7...Bg7 8 h3. The automatic response is 8 a4, which is met by 8...Bg4. However, evidence suggests that the rare move 8 Be2! Is equally good. It does allow Black to expand on the queenside with 8...b5, but 9 0-0 Bg7 10 e5!:

is the whole idea behind 8 Be2 and 9 0-0. By opening up the centre at the first opportunity, White aims to exploit his lead in development and the space behind Black’s queenside pawns. See the notes to the recent game Gozzoli, Y - Perunovic, M, a crushing win for White.


Benoni Classical: ...Bg4 lines [A75]

6 e4 g6 7 Nf3 Bg7 8 Be2 0-0 9 0-0 a6 10 a4 Bg4 reaches a well-known mainline position:

11 Bf4 has been White’s most popular choice here, but modern engines believe 11 Nd2! to be the best move, forcing a bishop-for-bishop exchange instead of allowing ...Bxf3. The position becomes critical after 11...Bxe2 12 Qxe2 Nbd7 13 Nc4 Nb6 14 Ne3!:

See the notes to Gschiel, A - Baumegger, S.

6 e4 g6 7 Nf3 Bg7 8 Be2 0-0 9 0-0 Bg4!:

I was surprised to discover that Modern engines believe that 9...Bg4 is Black’s best move here, stronger than both 9...Re8 and 9...a6. We’ve previously seen numerous examples where Black prefers to delay or even avoid ...a6, and this is another one. It’s certainly true that after 10 Nd2 Bxe2 11 Qxe2 Nbd7 12 Nc4 Nb6 13 Ne3 the absence of a4 and ...a6 helps Black:

White isn’t yet in a position to drive the knight back with a5, so Black gets an extra tempo to organise counterplay. See Franic, M - Cvitan, O for analysis of this position and alternatives for White on the 10th move.


Benoni Modern Main Line: 9 Bd3 b5 Nxb5 [A70]

6 e4 g6 7 Nf3 Bf7 8 h3 0-0 9 Bd3 b5 10 Nxb5 Re8 11 0-0 Nxe4:

Objectively speaking, 9...b5 remains Black’s best option against the Modern Main Line. The only alternative is to accept a worse position, albeit one with fewer concrete forcing lines. Here we’ll update two critical lines:

a) Against 12 Qa4, modern engines prefer 12...Bd7! to 12...a6, but there’s a vital move Black needs to know which has only been played once before - see the notes to Kaczur, F - Torres Rebolledo, A.

b) 12 Bxe4 Rxe4 13 Bg5! is another challenging line:

Black must be very careful here. If he defends accurately, he keeps the balance, but it’s very noticeable that White enjoys a high percentage score. 13...Qd7!, keeping contact with the e8-square, is the wisest option. See Peralta, F - Aroshidze, L for analysis.


Till next time, John

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