Bonzo Benoni Chess Theory Table

1 d4 c5 2 d5(a) d6
  3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Eval

  Schmid Benoni Hempeater Variation

Nc3 e4 Nf3 bc3 Bb5 Bd3 0-0        

1 =
g6 Bg7 Bc3!? Nf6 Bd7 Bg4 Nbd7        

  Three Pawn Attack Variation

e4 f4 Nf3 c4 cd5(b) Nc3 Be2 0-0      

2 =
g6 Bg7 e6! ed5 Ne7 0-0 Bg4 Nd7      

  Four Pawn Attack Variation

c4 e4 f4 ef5 Bd3 Bd2 Bf5 Bc8      

3 ∞
g6 Bg7 f5!? Bf5 Qa5 Qb6 Qb2 a5      

  Kings Indian Hempeater Variation

... ... Nc3 bc3 Qb3 Bd3 Nf3 0-0 Be2    

4 ∞
... ... Bc3 Qa5 Nf6 Nbd7 Ng4 0-0 f6    

  Anti-Hempeater Variation

    Nf3 Qc2 Nbd2 Nf3 Be2 0-0 Be3    

5 =
    Nd7 Ne5 Nf3 Bg4 Nf6 0-0 Nd7    

a) 2 dxc5 e6 is easy equality. White should avoid the trap 3 b4? a5 4 c3 axb4 5 cxb4 Qf6.
b) 7 ed5 Ne7 8 Nc3 0-0 9 Bd3 Re8= is a solid alternative.

11 O-O h4 12 nge4 nxe4 13 bxe4 bd4+ 14 kh1 nf5

Akiba Rubinstein - Rudolf Spielmann
Bad Pistyan 1912 (A43 Old Benoni Defense) Black's attack has quickly assumed a concrete form. The
text move announces the well-known attack by 15...Ng3+.
Notes by Dr. Savielly Tartakower. The building up of an
attack by the second player - especially in an opening 15 bxf5 bxf5 16 re1+ kf8 17 qf3
both peculiar and difficult to handle - is a special art. We
shall be able to follow some its guiding principles here. White seeks to avoid fresh weaknesses; e.g., if 17 be3
bxc3 18 bxc3 h3 19 g3 be4+ 20 kg1 f5 or 20 … bg2 ,
1 d4 c5 2 d5 d6 3 c4 g6 4 e4 bg7 5 bd3 e6 and White's position remains restricted.

It will be noticed that Black carefully refrains from blocking 17 … h3 18 g3

the long diagonal either by 5 … e5 or, even temporarily,
by 5 … nf6 Evidently not 18 g4?? qh4

6 nc3 ne7 7 nge2 18 … qd7 19 bd2 bg4 20 qf1 qf5 21 rac1 kg7
22 be3 bf6 23 b3 rhe8 24 bf2 bf3+ 25 kg1 bg2
Here 7 f4 , followed by Nf3, leads to more straightforward 26 rxe8 bxf1 27 rxa8 qd3 28 re8 qf3 29 kxf1
development. qh1+ 30 bg1 qg2+ 31 ke1 qxg1+ 32 kd2 qxh2+
0-1
7 … exd5 8 exd5 nd7 9 f4 nf6 10 ng3 h5
For if (33 ne2 qg2 34 rg1 qxg1! 35 nxg1 h2 0-1 ,
Sounding the general attack. etc.)

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 While Black is making the moves d6, g6, and
Bonzo Benoni Bg7, White has three moves. One of them will
(A43 Old Benoni Defense) almost certainly be e2-e4, but the other two
are open to choice. White can develop the
1 d4 c5 queen’s knight to c3 without moving the c-
2 d5 pawn first, or he can play c2-c4. Whether he
plays an early c2-c4 or not, White can delay
2 dxc5 is easy equality. One way to play, along Nc3 if he wishes to avoid the doubling of the
Sicilian lines, is 2 … e6 3 nc3 (3 b4? a5 4 c3 pawns by … Bxc3. So we have five major
axb4 5 cxb4 qf6 is a well-known trap.) 3 … bxc5 possibilities.
4 e4 (4 ne4?! nf6 5 nd6+ ke7 6 nxc8+ qxc8 =/+)
4 … nc6 5 nf3 nf6 6 bd3 a6 7 O-O qc7 = 1. White plays 3 Nc3, 4 e4, and 5 Nf3, the Schmid
Benoni, allowing the Hempeater capture … Bxc3.
2 … d6 !”“”“”“”“#
!""""""""# $tMvWl+mT%
$Oo+*OoVo%
$tMvWlVmT% $*+*O*+o+%
$Oo+*OoOo% $+*Op+*+*%
$*+*O*+*+% $*+*+p+*+%
$+*N*+n+*%
$+*Op+*+*% $pPp+*PpP%
$*+*+*+*+% $R*BqKb+r%
$+*+*+*+*% /(((((((()
2. White plays 3 e4, 4 f4, and 5 Nf3 to avoid Bxc3,
$pPp+pPpP% making it a Three Pawn Attack.
$RnBqKbNr% !""""""""#
/(((((((() $tMvWl+mT%
The Bonzo Benoni setup consists of Black $Oo+*OoVo%
playing the moves … g6 and … Bg7. Black $*+*O*+o+%
delays the development of his king’s knight, in $+*Op+*+*%
order to keep open the options of $*+*+pP*+%
$+*+*+n+*%
1. … Bxc3 (if White plays Nc3 at some point)
2. … f5 to strike at the center
$pPp+*+pP%
3. … e6 and … exd5 to transpose into a Modern $RnBqKb+r%
Benoni when Black has the option to put his king’s /(((((((()
knight on e7 or h6 rather than f6. 3. White plays 3 c4, 4 e4, and 5 f4, going for a Four
Pawn Attack.
!""""""""#
$tMvWl+mT% !”“”“”“”“#
$tMvWl+mT%
$Oo+*OoVo% $Oo+*OoVo%
$*+*O*+o+% $*+*O*+o+%
$+*Op+*+*% $+*Op+*+*%
$*+p+pP*+%
$*+*+*+*+% $+*+*+*+*%
$+*+*+*+*% $pP*+*+pP%
$pPp+pPpP% $RnBqKbNr%
$RnBqKbNr% /(((((((()
/(((((((()
Black’s setup

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4. White plays 3 c4, 4 e4, and 5 Nc3, allowing Bxc3,
the Kings Indian Hempeater.
5 bd2 nf6 6 bb5+ bd7 7 a4 O-O 8 nge2
!”“”“”“”“# na6 9 O-O nb4 =;
$tMvWl+mT%
$Oo+*OoVo% 5 be2 na6 6 nf3 nc7 7 O-O nf6 8 a4 O-O
$*+*O*+o+% (8 … a6 Keres,P - Schmid,L, Wenen 1957) 9 nd2 b6
$+*Op+*+*% (9 … a6) 10 nc4 ba6 Vospernik,Zdravko -
$*+p+p+*+% Gligoric,S, Novi Sad 1955 and Rashkovsky,N -
$+*N*+*+*% Tal,M, Riga 1973.
$pP*+*PpP%
$R*BqKbNr%
5 … bxc3+!?
/(((((((()
5. White plays 3 c4, 4 e4, and 5 Nf3 and delays Nc3,
the Anti-Hempeater. The Schmid Benoni Hempeater Variation,
similar to the Beefeater (or Dzindzi-Indian)
!”“”“”“”“#
doubled pawn, except with a pawn on c2
$tMvWl+mT%
instead of c4.
$Oo+*OoVo%
$*+*O*+o+%
$+*Op+*+*% 5 … na6 Polugaevsky,L - Tal,M, Baku ch-
$*+p+p+*+% URS (1) 1961 is also good. 6 bb5+
$+*+*+n+*% (6 bc4 nf6 (6 … nc7 7 O-O nf6 8 qd3 bg4 9 h3
$pP*+*PpP% bxf3 10 qxf3 nd7 11 qe2 O-O 12 a4 f5 13 exf5 rxf5
$RnBqKb+r% 14 ne4 nb6 15 g4 rf8 16 bb3 nbxd5 17 ng5 kh8
/(((((((() 18 bxd5 nxd5 +-) 7 O-O O-O 8 bg5 nd7 = 9 be2
h6; 6 be2 transposes to a Modern Benoni whenever
black plays Nf6 6 … nc7 7 O-O a6 (7 … nf6) 8 a4 nf6
= 9 nd2 O-O 10 a5 nb5 Bouwmeester,H - Szabo,L,
1. Schmid Benoni Hempeater Amsterdam: IBM (1) 1965; 6 g3 nc7 7 bg2 b5
Jimenez,E - Penrose,J, Varna olm (1) 1962)
3 nc3
6 … bd7 7 bxd7+ qxd7 8 O-O nf6 9 a4 O-
Some theorists claim that this move is better O 10 bg5 nc7 11 qd3 h6 =;
than 3 c4 since it leaves the square c4 open
for a knight after Nf3-d2-c4. This is debatable 5 … nf6 is most common. 6 be2 na6 7 O-O
because, on the other hand, Black has an nc7 8 a4 a6 9 nd2 bd7 10 e5 dxe5 11 nc4
easier time getting in his Benoni duo with … b5
b5, and White has less center control. The
pros and cons of 3 Nc3 are approximately 6 bxc3 nf6
offsetting. It is a matter of taste. That said,
most 1 d4 players automatically play 3 c4 6 … f5?!
instead since this is more familiar.
7 bb5+
3 … g6
4 e4 bg7 7 qd3 qa5 8 bd2 qa4 9 c4 nbd7 (9 … b5?!
5 nf3 Walther,E - Hoennl, corr BdF/I (1) 1970) 10 bc3 O-O
11 be2 =;
5 f4?! bxc3+ 6 bxc3 nf6 7 bb5+ (7 bd3 qa5
8 ne2 nbd7 9 O-O b5 =/+) 7 … bd7 8 bxd7+
nbxd7;

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7 bd3 bg4! (7 … O-O 8 c4 qa5+ 9 bd2 qa4 13 qe2
Gara,Ticia (2309) - Haag,Ervin (2306), Hungary ch
2007) 8 O-O nbd7 as in the main line. 13 bh6? c4 -/+;

7 … bd7 13 c4 ne5 14 qf4 (14 qe2? b5) 14 … O-O

8 bd3 =/+

8 bxd7+ nbxd7 9 qe2 qa5 (9 … O-O =) 13 … O-O =

10 O-O O-O 11 c4 rfe8 (11 … qa6 = 12 bg5
kg7 13 rfb1 rfe8 14 qd3 e6 15 rb3 exd5 16 exd5
ne4 17 ra3 qb6 18 bf4 kg8 (18 … f5 19 rb3 qc7
(oo)) 19 rb3 qa6 20 ra3 qb6 =) 12 rb1 qa6 2. Three Pawn Attack
13 rb3 e6 14 ra3 qb6 15 dxe6 rxe6
16 ng5 re7 17 f3 a5 18 nh3 qa6 19 qd2 3 e4 g6
4 f4
8 … bg4
4 nf3 bg7 5 be2 (5 nc3 na6 transposes to
8 … qa5 9 rb1 b5 10 O-O c4 11 be2 O-O Polugaevsky - Tal.) 5 … bg4 (5 … nf6 6 nc3 O-O
12 re1 nxe4 13 bxc4 nxc3 14 qd2 bxc4 7 O-O; 5 … na6 6 nc3 nc7 7 O-O Vospernik,Zdravko
- Gligoric,S, Novi Sad (1) 1955; 5 … f5!?) 6 O-O
15 bb2 ne2+ 16 qxe2 c3 17 ba1 re8
(6 nfd2 bxe2 7 qxe2 nd7 8 O-O ngf6 =) 6 … nd7
18 qe3 f6 19 qd4 qxa2 20 bxc3 qxc2
7 a4 ngf6
21 rb7 rc8 22 bb2 re8 +/-
4 … bg7
9 O-O nbd7 =
5 nf3
!""""""""#
$t+*Wl+*T% This is a Three Pawn Attack of the Modern
$Oo+mOo+o% Defense. 5 c4 f5!? transposes to the Four
Pawn Attack line.
$*+*O*Mo+%
$+*Op+*+*% 5 … e6!
$*+*+p+v+% 6 c4
$+*Pb+n+*% 6 dxe6 bxe6 (6 … fxe6 Van Scheltinga,T -
$p+p+*PpP% Schmid,L, Dublin zt (1) 1957) 7 be2 nf6 8 ng5
$R*Bq+rK*% O-O 9 O-O nc6 10 nxe6 fxe6 =;
/(((((((()
10 h3 6 bb5+ bd7 7 bxd7+ (7 a4 exd5 8 qxd5 qc7)
7 … qxd7 8 O-O (8 c4 na6 (oo)) 8 … exd5
10 rb1 qc7 11 h3 9 exd5 (9 qxd5 ne7 10 qc4 nbc6 =) 9 … ne7 =

10 … bxf3 6 … exd5
11 qxf3 qa5 7 cxd5
12 bd2
7 exd5 ne7 (7 … nf6 8 bd3 O-O 9 O-O b5 10 cxb5
12 c4 qa4 13 bb2 O-O = a6 11 nc3 axb5 12 bxb5 ba6 13 bxa6 rxa6 (oo))
8 nc3 O-O 9 bd3 re8 = 10 O-O bf5 11 qc2
12 … qa4 na6 12 a3 nc7 13 b3 b5 14 rb1 bxd3 15 qxd3 nf5

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16 bd2 rb8 17 ne4 nd4 18 nxd4 bxd4+ 19 kh1 f5 6 exf5
20 ng5 qd7 21 h3 rb7 22 kh2 bg7 23 ba5 bf6
24 rfe1 rxe1 25 rxe1 bxc4 26 bxc4 ne8 27 qe3
6 e5 dxe5 7 fxe5 bxe5 8 nf3 bg7 9 nc3
ng7 28 ne6 qe8 29 bc7 qd7 30 ba5 qe8 =
nf6 =/+ 10 be2 O-O 11 O-O na6 =/+
7 … ne7
8 nc3 O-O 6 … bxf5
9 be2 bg4 7 bd3
10 O-O nd7 =
7 nf3 qa5+ 8 qd2 qxd2+ = 9 kxd2 nf6
!""""""""# 10 nc3 e6 11 nh4 ne4+ 12 kc2 bxc3
$t+*W*Tl+% 13 bxc3 nf2+ =/+ 14 nxf5 exf5 15 rg1 nd7
$Oo+mMoVo% 16 bd2 nf6 17 be1 n2e4 (17 … n2g4
$*+*O*+o+% 18 bh4 kf7 =) 18 bd3 kf7 19 h3 (19 bh4
h6) 19 … h6 20 rb1 b6 21 a4
$+*Op+*+*%
$*+*+pPv+% 7 … qa5+
$+*N*+n+*% 8 bd2 qb6
$pP*+b+pP% 9 bxf5 qxb2
$R*Bq+rK*% 10 bc8 (oo) a5
/(((((((() !""""""""#
11 be3 a6 $tMb+l+mT%
12 rc1 re8
13 bf2 b5
$+o+*O*Vo%
14 h3 bxf3 $*+*O*+o+%
15 bxf3 rc8 = $O*Op+*+*%
$*+p+*P*+%
$+*+*+*+*%
3. Four Pawn Attack $pW*B*+pP%
$Rn+qK*Nr%
3 c4 g6 /(((((((()
4 e4 bg7 Also possible is 10 … na6 11 bxb7 qxb7
5 f4 12 nc3 qb4 13 qb3 nh6 14 nf3 O-O =

This Four Pawn Attack doesn't work out as 11 na3 qxa3 12 rc1 nh6 13 nf3 O-O =
well for White here, compared to its Benoni/ 14 be6+ kh8 15 O-O na6 16 ng5 nc7
Kings Indian counterpart. 17 qc2 b5 18 cxb5 nxb5 19 rf3 qb2
20 qxb2 bxb2 21 rb1 bd4+ 22 kf1 nc7
5 … f5!? 23 rb7 nxe6 24 nxe6 rfe8 25 ke2 rac8
26 f5 nxf5 27 g4 ng7 28 nxd4 cxd4
5 … e6 6 nc3 (6 nf3 exd5) 6 … exd5 7 cxd5
29 rf7 kg8 30 rfxe7 rxe7+ 31 rxe7 ne8
ne7 Bouaziz,S - Larsen,B, Sousse izt: FIDE
32 bxa5 nf6 33 re6 nxg4 34 rxd6 rc2+
(27) 1967;
35 kd3 rxa2 36 bb4 rxh2 37 re6 kf7
38 re7+ kf6 39 d6 rb2 40 re8 rxb4
5 … nh6!? 6 nf3 O-O 7 nc3 bg4 8 be2
41 d7 rb8 42 rxb8 ne5+ 43 kxd4 nxd7
nd7 9 O-O (oo)
44 rb7 ke6 1/2 Stockfish - Stockfish

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 (13 … bd4 14 bg4 ne5 15 bxf5 bxf5 16 ne2 nd3 17 qd1
4. Kings Indian Hempeater bg4 18 bc1 nxb2 19 bxb2 bxb2 20 rb1 bf6 21 qd2 qc7
22 h3 bd7 23 ng3 a6 24 ne4 bg7 25 qg5 re8 26 qh4 b5
27 rbe1 h6 28 ng3 e5 29 qe4 kh7 30 h4 h5 31 f4 bg4 32 f5
3 c4 g6 qf7 33 qb1 +/- rf8) 14 ne4 +/=) 7 bxc3 bxf5 8 ne2 nf6
4 e4 bg7 9 ng3;
5 nc3 bxc3+ 5 … nf6;

This capture makes it a Kings Indian 5 … e5 6 bd3 (6 nf3 f5 (6 … ne7 7 bd3 O-O 8 O-O h6
9 bd2 f5 10 qc2 nd7 11 a3 nf6 12 b4 b6 (oo)) 7 exf5 gxf5
Hempeater Variation. There are various 8 ng5 nf6 9 ne6 bxe6 10 dxe6 nc6 11 nb5 O-O 12 qxd6 a6
playable alternatives. Roughly in order of 13 e7 nxe7 14 qxd8 raxd8 15 nc3 =/+) 6 … ne7 7 nf3
strength: O-O 8 h3 h6 9 g4 na6 10 be3 f5 =

5 … nh6!? Keeping both bishop diagonals open. Back to the main line after 5 … Bxc3.
6 nf3 (6 bd3; 6 f4 O-O) 6 … nd7 (6 … f5? 7 e5 +/-) 7 bd2
(7 bd3 ng4 =) 7 … f5 (7 … O-O 8 ng5 nb6 9 a4 a5 10 be2 f5
11 h4 ng4 12 exf5 gxf5 +/-) 8 bd3 (8 be2 O-O 9 O-O nf6
6 bxc3 qa5
(9 … fxe4 10 nxe4 nf5 11 bc3 nf6 12 ng3 bh6 13 bd3 nxg3
14 hxg3 e5 15 dxe6 bxe6 16 re1 qd7 17 b3 rae8 +/=) 10 e5 6 … f5 7 exf5 bxf5 8 nf3 (8 ne2 qa5 9 qb3
dxe5 11 nxe5 ne4 = 12 nd3 (12 nxe4 fxe4 13 qb1 qd6 =
14 qxe4 bf5 15 qe3 bxe5 16 qxh6 bxb2 17 rad1 rf7 nf6 (9 … nd7) 10 ng3 (10 qxb7 O-O 11 bh6
18 be3 raf8 19 qh4 bf6 20 qg3 be5 21 f4 bg7) 12 … b6 (11 qxa8 nbd7 12 qc6 rb8 13 bf4 ng4 14 bd2
13 bf3 nxd2 14 qxd2 rb8 15 rae1 nf7 16 re2 a6 17 rfe1 nge5 15 nd4 cxd4! 16 cxd4 nxc6 17 bxa5 nxa5 =/
bf6 18 b4 cxb4 19 nxb4 bb7 20 qc1 qc7 21 nc6 rbe8 22 c5 +; 11 qxe7? re8 12 qxf6 nd7 13 qg5 qxc3+ -+)
ng5 23 cxb6 qxb6 24 nxe7+ kf7 25 rb2 nxf3+ 26 gxf3 qc7
11 … nbd7 12 qb5 (12 bxf8 rb8 13 qxb8 nxb8
27 d6 qxd6 28 nxf5 rxe1+ 29 qxe1 gxf5 30 rxb7+ kg8
31 qb1 be5 32 ne2 bxh2+ 33 kf1 qd5 34 qb3 qxb3 14 bxe7 nbd7 15 bxd6 bd3 -/+) 12 … qxb5 13 cxb5
35 rxb3 be5 =; 8 ng5 nf6 9 bd3 O-O 10 O-O fxe4 11 ncxe4 rfc8 14 a4 a6 15 ng3 c4 16 bxa6 bd3 17 bxd3 cxd3
nxe4 12 bxe4 bg4 13 qc2 nf7 (oo); 8 bxh6 bxh6 9 exf5 gxf5 18 kd2 rxa6 =/+) 10 … e6 11 be2 O-O 12 O-O qa6
10 be2 O-O 11 O-O ne5 =)8 … fxe4 9 nxe4 nf7 13 rd1 +/=) 8 … qa5 (8 … nd7 9 bd3 bg4
10 bc3 O-O (10 … bxc3+ 11 nxc3) 11 bxg7 kxg7 10 rb1 ngf6 11 O-O qc7 12 be2 bxf3 13 bxf3 ne5
(oo);
14 be2 O-O-O 15 bf4 kb8 16 qc2 +-) 9 qb3
5 … e6 6 nf3 (6 be2 ne7 7 nf3; 6 dxe6 bxc3+ 7 bxc3 bxe6 (9 bd2 bg4)9 … nf6 (9 … nd7 10 nh4 e5 11 be2
8 bd3 nc6 9 rb1 qa5 10 ne2 O-O-O =) 6 … exd5 (6 … ne7 nb6 12 O-O nf6 (oo)) 10 nh4 (10 be2 nbd7 (oo))
7 be2 (7 dxe6 bxe6 8 bf4 nbc6 9 qb3 nd4 10 nxd4 cxd4
11 nd5 O-O (oo)) 7 … O-O 8 O-O e5 (8 … a6) 9 a3 h6 10 … bc8 (10 … bd7 11 a4 rg8 12 bd3 na6
Polugaevsky - Eising, Solingen 1974; 6 … bxc3+ 7 bxc3 qa5 13 O-O O-O-O 14 bg5 rde8 +/-) 11 be2 nbd7
8 qc2 nf6) 7 exd5 (7 cxd5 a6 (7 … ne7 =) 8 a4 bg4 = 9 be2
nd7 five games (9 … bxf3 Wegner - Ivanov, Gausdal 1991) 10 O- 12 O-O nb6 +/=;
O ne7 (oo)) 7 … ne7 (7 … nf6 8 qe2+ (8 bg5 a6 9 a4 O-O
10 bd3 bg4 =) 8 … kf8 9 bg5 bf5 10 qd2 h6 11 bh4 qb6; 6 … e5
7 … bxc3+ 8 bxc3 nf6 9 bd3 qe7+ 10 qe2 bg4 11 qxe7+
kxe7 12 rb1 nbd7 13 rxb7 rhb8 14 rxb8 rxb8 15 kd2
bxf3 16 gxf3 re8 17 kc2 kd8 18 bg5 kc7 19 be3 nh5 20 f4 7 qb3 nf6
f5)8 bd3 O-O 9 O-O bg4 10 bf4 nc8 11 h3 qf6
12 g3 bxf3 13 qxf3 nd7 14 qe2 ne5 15 rae1
7 … nd7 8 nf3 nb6 (8 … ngf6) 9 bd3 (9 bf4
qd8 16 kg2 a6 17 bd2 b5 (17 … rb8 18 bc2 b5 19 cxb5
bg4 (9 … nf6 10 bd3 O-O 11 O-O re8 12 bg5 bd7
axb5 20 nxb5 nb6 21 bc1 nxd5 22 rd1 +/-) 18 cxb5 nxd3
13 rfe1 ba4 14 qb2 nfd7 15 bh6 f6 +/-; 9 … e5
19 qxd3 axb5 20 qxb5 ra5 21 qd3 nb6 22 re2
10 dxe6 bxe6 11 bxd6 O-O-O 12 be5 (12 e5 nh6
qa8 23 qf3 nc4 (23 … c4 24 rc1 nd7 25 bf4 ne5
26 bxe5 bxe5 27 rd2 qb7 28 qe4 rc8 29 re1 qb4 30 qc2 13 bd3 f6 =/+ 14 O-O nf7) 12 … f6 13 bf4 g5 14 be3
bf6 31 re4 kg7 32 re3 raa8 33 a3 qb6 34 ne4 be5 35 rc3 ne7 15 be2 ng6 16 O-O rd7 17 qb5 qxb5 18 cxb5
f5 36 f4 bxc3 37 qxc3+ kg8 38 nf6+ kf7 39 nxh7 kg8 na4 19 rfc1 b6 20 rab1 rhd8) 10 nd2 nf6 11 h3
40 ng5 qa5 41 qd4 rf8 42 rc2 +-) 24 bf4 ne5; bd7 12 e5 nh5 13 bh2 O-O 14 be2 ng7)
9 … bg4 Preventing e5 by threatening the
5 … na6;
knight. 10 nd2 O-O-O (10 … nf6 11 qb5+)
5 … f5 6 exf5 bxc3+ (6 … bxf5 7 nge2 nh6 8 ng3 O-O 11 O-O bd7 12 a4 +/-;
9 be2 bc8 10 bd2 nd7 11 qc1 nf5 12 nxf5 rxf5 13 O-O rf7

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7 … f5 8 exf5 bxf5 9 ne2 bc8 10 ng3 nd7 15 … qc7 16 qb1 e5 17 f5 gxf5 18 exf5
11 be2 nb6 12 O-O +/- kh8 19 bh5 bd7 20 a4 be8 21 a5 rg8
22 kh1 rb8 23 ra2 qc8 24 g3 qc7
8 bd3 nbd7 25 be2 bd7 26 kg2 rg7 27 rb2 ng5
28 bd3 rgg8 29 rf2 rg7 30 bc2 kg8
8 … O-O is also good. 9 nf3 (9 bg5 nbd7 = 31 rf1 kh8 32 re1 nf7 33 qd1 qxa5
10 nf3 b5 11 cxb5 a6 12 b6 (12 bxa6 bxa6 13 bxa6 34 qa1 qxa1 35 rxa1 e4 36 rxa7 bxf5
qxa6 14 qc2 qa4 -/+) 12 … nxb6 13 nd2 bd7
14 qc2 rfb8 15 O-O na4 16 nc4 qxc3 17 qxc3 37 bf4 ne5 38 bxe5 fxe5 39 kf2 h5
nxc3 18 bxf6 exf6 19 rfc1 nb5 20 rab1 kg7 21 f4 40 bd1 h4 41 gxh4 rf8 42 ke3 rg1
a5 22 a4 nd4 23 nxd6 rxb1 24 rxb1 bxa4 25 nb7 43 bh5 re1+ 44 kd2 rh1 45 ke3 rc1
c4 26 bxc4 bc2 27 re1 ra7 28 nd6 a4 29 kf2 46 kd2 rf1 47 rbxb7 rf4 48 h3 rxh4
bb3 30 bxb3 nxb3 =) 9 … nbd7 10 O-O b6
49 bg4 bxg4 50 hxg4 rxg4 51 rh7+ kg8
11 h3 ba6 12 bh6 rfe8 13 rab1 e6 52 rhe7 rg2+ 53 ke3 rg3+ 54 ke2 rb8
14 qc2 nh5 15 rfe1 rad8 16 be2 exd5 55 rad7 e3 56 kd3 rh3 57 rg7+ kh8
17 cxd5 bxe2 18 rxe2 b5 (oo) 58 rg1 e2+ 59 kc2 rg8 60 re1 rgg3
61 rxe2 rxc3+ 62 kb2 rxc4 63 rxd6 e4
9 nf3 ng4
64 re6 rd4 65 r6xe4 rxd5 1/2 Stockfish -
10 O-O O-O
Stockfish
11 be2

11 h3 nge5 12 nxe5 nxe5 13 be2 f6 is

similar. 5. Anti-Hempeater
11 … f6 = 3 c4 g6
!""""""""# 4 e4 bg7
nf3
$t+v+*Tl+% 5

$Oo+mO*+o% The Anti-Hempeater Variation, in which White

$*+*O*Oo+% avoids the doubled pawns resulting after Nc3.
$W*Op+*+*%
$*+p+p+m+% Other unusual tries are:
5 be2 e6;
$+qP*+n+*% 5 bd3 Rubinstein - Spielmann, Pistyan 1912
$p+*+bPpP%
$R*B*+rK*% 5 … nd7
/(((((((()
12 bd2 nge5 Intending to exchange a pair of knights to
13 nxe5 nxe5 reduce cramp.
14 f4
(5 … e5 Black goes for an Accelerated Kings Indian,
intending to play ...f5 before ...Nf6. Some
14 bh6 rd8 15 bd2 bd7 16 f4 nf7 = alternatives are 6 nc3 f5 (6 … ne7 7 bd3 (7 be2 O-O
8 O-O f5) 7 … O-O 8 O-O f5 9 a3 fxe4 10 nxe4 b6
14 … nf7 11 nfg5 nf5 12 h4 h6 13 h5 hxg5 14 hxg6 g4
15 qb5 15 qxg4 qh4 16 qxh4 nxh4 17 nxd6 bf5
18 nxf5 nxf5 19 bg5 nd7 20 rae1 rae8 21 b4
nd6 22 bc2 e4 23 ba4 b5 24 cxb5 c4 25 b6 re5
15 a4 rb8 = 26 bxd7 rxg5 27 be6+ kh8 28 bxa7 bd4 29 g4
rxg6 30 kg2 rgf6 31 rh1+ kg7 32 bf5 nxf5

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 33 gxf5 rxf5 34 rxe4 bxa7 35 kf1 rf4 36 rg1+ 9 be2 nf6
kh6 37 rxf4 rxf4 38 rg2 c3 39 f3 be3 40 re2 10 O-O O-O =
rc4 41 rc2 kg5 42 b5 bd2 43 ke2 ra4 44 kd3
kf6 45 ra2 ke5 46 b6 ra6 47 a4 rxb6 48 a5 !""""""""#
ra6 49 kc4 kd6 50 f4 kc7 51 kd3 kb8 52 ra4
kb7 53 f5 rd6 54 rd4 ka6 55 f6 rxf6 56 d6 rf8
$t+*W*Tl+%
57 d7 rd8 58 rd5) 7 exf5 (7 be2 nf6; 7 g3 ne7 $Oo+*OoVo%
(7 … nf6); 7 ng5 nf6 8 bd3 O-O) 7 … gxf5 8 be2 nf6
9 O-O O-O 10 qc2 na6 11 bg5 h6 12 bd2 e4
$*+*O*Mo+%
13 ne1 nc7 14 qb3 b6 15 a4 bd7 16 g3 nh7 $+*Op+*+*%
17 h4 qe7 18 ng2 rfb8 19 qc2 nf6 20 bf4 a6
21 qd2 qf8 22 ne3 kh7 23 qc2 qe7 24 rfb1 a5
$*+p+p+v+%
25 qd1 rg8 26 bf1 bf8 =; $+*+*+n+*%
5 … e6 6 nc3 (6 be2) 6 … exd5 (6 … bxc3+ 7 bxc3
$pPq+bPpP%
nf6 (7 … e5 8 bd3 h6 9 ng1 (9 O-O nf6 10 a4 nbd7 11 ne1 $R*B*+rK*%
nh5 12 a5 nf4 13 bd2 g5 14 bc2 nf6 15 f3 bd7 16 nd3 kf8
17 be3 rb8 18 nf2 kg7 19 kh1 ne8 20 rg1 ng6 21 g3 kf8 /(((((((()
22 bd2 qe7 23 nd3 nf6 24 qe2 qd8 25 nf2 rg8 26 qd3 11 be3
rh8 27 qf1 rg8 28 qe2 qc7 29 nd1 rg7 30 ne3 kg8
31 ng4 nxg4 32 fxg4 f6 33 h3 qc8 34 kh2 qc7 35 rgf1 rf7)
9 … qa5) 8 bd3 (oo) O-O 9 O-O nbd7 10 dxe6 fxe6 11 bc2
11 a3
qc7 12 qd3 ng4 13 rd1 nde5 14 nxe5 nxe5 15 qxd6 qxd6
16 rxd6 nf7 17 rd1 b6 18 f3 ba6 19 bb3 rfd8 20 bf4 e5 11 … nd7
21 bg3 kg7 22 a4 rxd1+ 23 rxd1 kf6 24 a5 rd8 25 rd5
ke6 26 kf2 rc8 27 ke1 rb8 28 ke2 bb7 29 axb6 bxd5
12 rab1 qa5
30 cxd5+ kd6 31 bxa7 ra8 32 kd3 rxa7 33 bf2 rb7 34 kc2
ra7 35 be3 ra1 +/=; 6 … ne7 7 be2 O-O 8 O-O a6 (8 … e5) 12 … h5
9 a4 exd5 (9 … h6 10 dxe6 fxe6 11 be3 nbc6 12 qd2 g5
13 rad1 qb6 +/-) 10 exd5 (10 cxd5 bg4 11 bf4 re8)) 7 cxd5
13 a3 qa6
(7 exd5) 7 … a6;
14 rfd1 nb6
5 … bg4; 15 rdc1 nd7
5 … na6;
5 … f5; 15 … rac8
5 … nh6)
16 h3 bxf3
6 qc2 17 bxf3 rac8
18 be2 Stockfish - Stockfish
6 nc3 bxc3+ (6 … ne5 7 be2 nxf3+ 8 bxf3
be5!? (8 … bxc3+ 9 bxc3 qa5 10 qb3 nf6 11 bd2
rb8 12 O-O O-O +/= 13 rfe1 ng4 14 qb5 b6
15 be2 kg7 16 qb1 f6 17 qc1 kg8 18 f4 qa4 19 h3
nh6 20 qd1 qxd1 21 rexd1 nf7 22 a4 a5 23 g4 g5
24 kg2 kg7 25 rf1 bd7 26 rfb1 gxf4 27 bxf4 h6 =;
8 … nf6 9 O-O O-O 10 bg5 re8 11 qb3 nd7
12 rad1 qb6 13 be2 bd4 14 nb5 be5 15 qc2 a6
=; 8 … e5?! 9 b4 +/-) 9 O-O bd7 10 qc2 nf6 11 be2
O-O =) 7 bxc3 ngf6 8 bd3 qa5 9 qc2 ng4
(oo)

6 … ne5
7 nbd2 nxf3+
8 nxf3 bg4

8 … f5; 8 … nf6; 8 … qb6

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