Benoni Defense: Old Benoni

The Old Benoni (1.d4 c5) attacks White's d-pawn on the first move. White usually replies 2.d5, gaining space; the game then often resembles other Benoni structures, with Black's c-pawn facing White's advanced d-pawn.

Origins

The name comes from a book: in 1825 Aaron Reinganum published Ben-Oni oder die Vertheidigungen gegen die Gambitzüge im Schache, which analysed defences to the King's and Queen's Gambits and also the then unknown 1.d4 c5. Ben-Oni is a Hebrew name meaning "son of my sorrow"; Reinganum, who studied chess to ease his depression, meant it as a nickname for his writings rather than an opening name. In the 1843 Staunton–Saint-Amant match Saint-Amant played 1...c5 twice, though he wrote that the opening is not favourable to Black.

The Old Benoni is sometimes called the Blackburne Defense after Joseph Henry Blackburne, the first player known to have used it successfully. It has never attracted serious interest in high-level play, although Alexander Alekhine beat Efim Bogoljubow with it in their second match in 1934.

The idea

Black challenges d4 at once. After 2.d5 Black has a few extra options, such as an early ...f5 or an exchange of dark-squared bishops by ...Be7–g5. Because White has not played c4, White has more options too, and often plays Nc3 with the pawn still on c2, which allows an earlier e4. White's alternatives promise little: 2.dxc5 e6 gives no advantage, and 2.e4 transposes to a Smith-Morra Gambit, also equal at best.

Main lines

• 2.d5, the main move. The Old Benoni can transpose to the Czech Benoni, but has a few independent lines, such as 2...d6 3.Nc3 g6, the Schmid Variation.
• 2.dxc5, the Benoni Gambit Accepted; 2...e6 leads to no advantage for White.
• 2.e4 transposes to the Smith-Morra Gambit.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• An immediate challenge to White's d4-pawn.
• White's alternatives to 2.d5 promise little.

Weaknesses

• After 2.d5 White gains space in the centre.
• It has never attracted serious interest in high-level play.

Who should play it

The Old Benoni suits Black players who like Benoni and Sicilian-type structures and want an unusual, early fight against 1.d4.

The numbers

On Lichess the results are almost exactly even: White 47.7%, Black 47.6%. Black is slightly ahead at 1400–1799 (48.3% against 48.0%) and at 1800–2199 (47.7% against 47.5%); White leads under 1400 (48.7% against 47.7%) and from 2200 up (48.3% against 45.0%). In about 8,800 master games White won 42.0%, Black 26.7%, and 31.3% were drawn.