Benko Gambit
ECO A57-A59intermediate
The Benko Gambit, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5, is the most positional pawn sacrifice in chess: Black gives up the b-pawn not for an attack, but for the permanently open a- and b-files, where rooks and the a6 bishop generate pressure that lasts deep into the endgame — Benko endgames a pawn down are notoriously fine for Black. White's challenge is converting the extra pawn before the queenside grind dissolves it; the modern fianchetto and e4-with-h3 systems are the main attempts.
Main line
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.e4 g6
Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.
Win rates by rating
Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.
| Rating | Games | White wins | Draws | Black wins | Position after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400-600 | 42 | 50% | 2.4% | 47.6% | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 |
| 600-800 | 860 | 45.6% | 3.5% | 50.9% | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 |
| 800-1000 | 40 | 57.5% | 2.5% | 40% | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 |
| 1000-1200 | 29 | 48.3% | 6.9% | 44.8% | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 |
| 1200-1400 | 50 | 46% | 4% | 50% | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 |
Most played continuations (600-800 rating)
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4:
- g6 — played 29.5% of the time (White wins 47.6%, draws 2.4%, Black wins 50%)
- d5 — played 19.5% of the time (White wins 43.5%, draws 3.6%, Black wins 53%)
- Nc6 — played 13.8% of the time (White wins 32.8%, draws 3.4%, Black wins 63.9%)
Frequently asked questions
Why would Black sacrifice a pawn with no attack in sight?
Because the compensation is structural, not tactical: every White queenside pawn sits on an open file under x-ray pressure, the g7 bishop bears down the long diagonal, and Black's position plays itself (...Ba6, ...Qa5/...Qb6, rooks to a8 and b8). It is the rare gambit where simplification favors the gambiteer.
Should White accept or decline the Benko?
Accepting with 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 is critical but walks into Black's whole idea; many strong players prefer declining setups — 4.Nf3, the 5.b6 return, or the Zaitsev 4.Nc3 — keeping the extra-tempo initiative instead of the pawn. Both approaches are theoretically healthy; the choice is stylistic.
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