Benoni Defence: Chess Opening Guide, Strategy & Traps

The Benoni Defense is a chess opening that actually starts after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5. Instead of playing safe and solid, Black chooses this opening in order to create sharp and exciting positions.

This opening is popular for its unbalanced pawn structures, active piece play, along with chances for counterattack. Many great players, including Mikhail Tal and Garry Kasparov, used this opening to fight for a win even with Black pieces.

In this blog, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Benoni Defense in simple terms. Also, you’ll learn the main lines, common pawn structures, as well as key strategies for both sides. 

Furthermore, we’ll also cover important systems like the Modern Benoni, the Czech Benoni along with the dangerous Flick-Knife Attack. To make it completely practical, we’ll show typical middlegame plans, famous games, move order tricks, and mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll clearly understand exactly how to play the Benoni as Black or challenge it as White.