Benko Gambit Accepted: Pawn Return Variation

This chess opening involves a pawn sacrifice by Black for counterplay on the queenside, with White returning the pawn for a more balanced position.

1. d4 2. Nf6 3. c4 4. c5 5. d5 6. b5 7. cxb5 8. a6 9. b6

In this opening, Black offers a pawn sacrifice early in the game to open lines on the queenside and create counterplay. White can accept the gambit by capturing the pawn, but doing so allows Black to regain the pawn later with a well-timed pawn break. This variation is known for its dynamic and unbalanced positions, with both sides having chances for an advantage.

In this specific variation, White chooses to return the pawn immediately, leading to a more balanced position. This can be seen as a cautious approach by White, as they avoid the complications that can arise from holding onto the extra pawn. However, this also means that Black's pawn sacrifice has not been in vain, as they have achieved their goal of opening lines on the queenside.

Both players must be well-prepared in this opening, as it can lead to sharp tactical battles and complex middlegame positions. Black's main idea is to put pressure on White's queenside pawns and exploit any weaknesses that may arise. White, on the other hand, will try to consolidate their position and make use of their central pawn majority.

Overall, this opening is an exciting and challenging choice for both players, offering rich strategic and tactical opportunities. It is a popular choice among aggressive players who enjoy fighting for the initiative from the very beginning of the game.

Frequency: 18.2 %Stockfish score: 0.3, depth 57
Games Statistics:
White/Draws/Black
46.5%
9.7%
43.8%
Bookmoves score:
RateWhiteBlack
0...180053.051
1800...200055.053.3
2000...220059.050.5
2200...250057.550.7
2500...56.848.9