What is the idea behind the Modern Benoni?

A ruined structure and a queenside majority — Tal's favourite kind of chess. In practice that means: Accept a backward d-pawn and a space disadvantage for the queenside pawn majority; Aim the g7 bishop down the long diagonal at White's centre and queenside; Push …b5 to roll the majority and open lines for the rooks.

Is the Modern Benoni good for beginners?

It is rated Advanced here — the positions get sharp early, so knowing the plans behind the moves matters more than the move order alone.

What are the plans after the Modern Benoni?

White: Stop …b5 with a4 — if the majority never rolls, Black's structure is just bad. Black: Push …a6 and …b5 as fast as possible — the majority is the entire compensation.

All chess openings

Modern Benoni

A70 · Played as black · Advanced · Indian Defences

A ruined structure and a queenside majority — Tal's favourite kind of chess

Also known as Benoni, Benoni Defence, Taimanov Benoni.

The main line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8

Strategic ideas

Accept a backward d-pawn and a space disadvantage for the queenside pawn majority
Aim the g7 bishop down the long diagonal at White's centre and queenside
Push …b5 to roll the majority and open lines for the rooks
Use the half-open e-file against White's e4-pawn
Play for a win with Black at the cost of genuine risk — there is no drawish version of this

Key themes

Dynamic — The structure is objectively worse; only piece activity and the pawn majority justify it
Counterattack — Black concedes the centre and counterattacks on the queenside where the majority lives
Attack — The …b5 break and the long diagonal generate a real attack, not just counterplay

Typical plans

The Benoni is a deliberately unbalanced fight. Black takes a structure that any textbook would call bad — backward d-pawn, less space, a hole on d6 — in exchange for a queenside pawn majority and the fiercest dark-squared bishop in chess. The plans are crystal clear: Black plays …a6 and …b5, White plays e4-e5 or f4-f5. Whoever's break lands first tends to win. Tal loved it, which is either a recommendation or a warning depending on temperament.

Move by move

d4 — White claims the centre.
Nf6 — Black develops and controls e4 with a piece.
c4 — White grabs space and prepares Nc3.
c5 — Black hits d4 immediately, offering an asymmetrical fight.
d5 — White pushes past, closing the centre and taking a big space advantage.
e6 — Black challenges the d5-pawn at once — the Modern Benoni move order.
Nc3 — White develops and supports d5.
exd5 — Black takes, opening the e-file.
cxd5 — White recaptures with the pawn, keeping the space advantage and reaching the Benoni structure.
d6 — Black shores up e5 and c5, accepting the backward d-pawn that defines this opening.
e4 — White builds the big centre.
g6 — Black prepares the fianchetto. The bishop on g7 is the piece that justifies the whole structure.
Nf3 — White develops and prepares to castle.
Bg7 — Black completes the fianchetto, aiming at d4 and the queenside.
Be2 — White develops modestly, keeping options open.
O-O — Black castles, getting the king safe before the wing battle starts.
O-O — White castles too, connecting the rooks.
Re8 — Black puts the rook on the half-open e-file, pointing at e4. Black has less space and a worse structure, and White has to watch the queenside majority every single move — an entirely fair trade.

Where the line leads

White's plans

Stop …b5 with a4 — if the majority never rolls, Black's structure is just bad
Play the f4-f5 or e4-e5 break to open the centre while Black is committed to the queenside
Trade the dark-squared bishops if possible; the g7 bishop is Black's best piece by a distance

Black's plans

Push …a6 and …b5 as fast as possible — the majority is the entire compensation
Keep the g7 bishop and pressure the long diagonal through e5 and d4
Use the half-open e-file against e4 and never allow a passive setup to happen

Modern Benoni FAQ

What are the moves of the Modern Benoni?: The Modern Benoni (A70) runs 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Re8. It is played from Black's side of the board.
What is the idea behind the Modern Benoni?: A ruined structure and a queenside majority — Tal's favourite kind of chess. In practice that means: Accept a backward d-pawn and a space disadvantage for the queenside pawn majority; Aim the g7 bishop down the long diagonal at White's centre and queenside; Push …b5 to roll the majority and open lines for the rooks.
Is the Modern Benoni good for beginners?: It is rated Advanced here — the positions get sharp early, so knowing the plans behind the moves matters more than the move order alone.
What are the plans after the Modern Benoni?: White: Stop …b5 with a4 — if the majority never rolls, Black's structure is just bad. Black: Push …a6 and …b5 as fast as possible — the majority is the entire compensation.