Benko Gambit
A57–A59Black1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
A57–A59 · 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
The idea
One of the most positionally clear gambits in chess. Black offers the b-pawn not for a quick attack but for permanent, low-risk pressure: the a- and b-files swing open, and Black's rooks and fianchettoed bishop bear down on White's queenside for the rest of the game. Even in endgames the pressure lingers, which makes it remarkably safe for a gambit.
Your plan (Black)
Give up the b-pawn for lasting initiative: open the a- and b-files, fianchetto on g7, double rooks against White's queenside, and let the pressure grind — comfortable even without the pawn.
Heading into the middlegame
The Benko is the most positionally clear gambit in chess: you give the b-pawn for permanent, low-risk pressure. Open the a- and b-files, fianchetto ...Bg7 on the long diagonal, play ...d6 and ...Nbd7, then double rooks on the a- and b-files and pile onto White's queenside (a2, b2, and the loose pawns). The beauty is that the pressure never expires — even in an endgame a pawn down, White stays tied up. Don't chase a quick attack; just squeeze the queenside until something drops.
Lines
0/2 masteredYou give the b-pawn for lasting pressure down the open a- and b-files and the long diagonal — comfort that even lingers into the endgame.
White waves off the pawn and develops; you snatch on c4 instead, then fianchetto and build the same active queenside piece play.