Benko's Opening

a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Moves 1. g3
ECO A00
Origin Pal Benko versus Bobby Fischer, 1962, Candidates Tournament, Curaçao
Named after Pal Benko
Parent Flank opening
Synonym(s) Hungarian Opening, Barcza Opening, Bilek Opening, King's Fianchetto Opening
Chessgames.com opening explorer

Benko's Opening (also known as the Hungarian Opening, the Barcza Opening, the Bilek Opening, and the King's Fianchetto Opening), is a chess opening characterized by the move

1. g3

It is named after Pal Benko, who used 1.g3 to defeat Bobby Fischer and Mikhail Tal in rounds one and three of the 1962 Candidates Tournament in Curaçao, part of the 1963 World Championship cycle.[1] Benko used the opening the first eleven times he was White in the tournament.[2]

White's 1.g3 is a fairly popular first move; of the twenty possible opening moves, it ranks fifth in popularity. It is usually followed by 2.Bg2, fianchettoing the bishop. Usually the game will transpose to another opening such as the Catalan Opening, King's Indian Attack or some variation of the English Opening. The move 1.g3 can also be followed by 1...e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.Nf3 followed by 4.0-0 in which White has development and king safety while Black has the pawn center with d- and e-pawns.

In spite of being among the more common first moves, the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings has no specific code devoted to 1.g3, so it is classified under A00.[3] However, most games will transpose to some other opening with another code.

Perhaps the most common move is 1...d5. White can play 2.Nf3, which is usually reached by 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 so see Réti Opening. Then Black may play 2...Nf6 for King's Indian Attack (A07, see 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5), or Black may play 2...c6 for King's Indian Attack (A07, see 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6). Also White can play 2.Bg2. Then Black may play 2...Nf6 for uncommon opening (see 1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 Nf6). This can lead to King's Indian Attack (A07) or still uncommon opening. Or Black may play 2...e5 for uncommon opening (see 1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 e5). This can lead to still uncommon opening.

A possible move is the symmetrical 1...g6. White can play 2.c4, which is usually reached by 1.c4 g6 2.g3 so see English Opening. Then Black may play 2...Bg7 for English (A10, see 1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7), or Black may play 2...Nf6 for English (A15, see 1. c4 g6 2. g3 Nf6). Also White can play 2.Bg2. Then Black can play 2...Bg7 for an uncommon opening (see 1. g3 g6 2. Bg2 Bg7). This can lead to English (A36), English (A15), King's Indian Attack (A07), or Réti Opening (A04). Or Black can play 2...c5 for an uncommon opening (see 1. g3 g6 2. Bg2 c5). This can lead to still more uncommon openings.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mednis, Edmar (1994). How Karpov Wins. Courier Dover Publications. 
  2. ^ Timman, Jan (2005). Curaçao 1962: The Battle of Minds that Shook the Chess World. New in Chess. ISBN 978-90-5691-139-2 
  3. ^ Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings, Volume A, Fourth Edition. Chess Informant. 
Dunnington, Angus (2000). Winning Unorthodox Openings. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1857442854