Benko Gambit Declined - Bishop Attack
Benko Gambit Declined – Bishop Attack
Definition
The Bishop Attack is a way for White to decline the Benko (or Volga) Gambit. After the usual moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
White does not capture the b-pawn. Instead he plays
4. Bf4
developing the queen’s-bishop outside the pawn chain and reinforcing control over the key e5-square. The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) codes it as A57.
Origin & Historical Context
The move 4.Bf4 was popularised in the late 1960s by Bent Larsen, who liked to keep central tension and avoid Black’s typical queenside counter-play that follows an accepted Benko. Although never the absolute main line, it has been employed by elite grandmasters such as Garry Kasparov, Vassily Ivanchuk, and Veselin Topalov to sidestep Benko specialists.
Main Ideas & Strategic Themes
- Central Solidity: By declining the gambit, White keeps the extra pawn in the centre (d5) and delays opening the a- and b-files for Black’s rooks.
- Bishop Activity: The bishop on f4 eyes the c7- and e5-squares, discouraging Black from …e6 and making …d6 more passive.
- Flexible Structure: White often plays e3, Nf3, Nc3, h3, and sometimes g4 to clamp down on …f5 breaks.
- Delayed Acceptance: White can still capture on b5 later (cxb5) once development is complete.
- Black’s Counter-Play: Black usually chooses between …a6 (preparing …bxc4) or …g6 and fianchettoing, trying to generate the typical Benko pressure anyway.
Typical Move Order
A common tabiya appears after:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Bf4 a6 5. e3 d6 6. Nf3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O
Black has managed to set up a kingside fianchetto, but White’s centre remains intact and his bishop actively patrols f4-c7.
Illustrative Game
Ivanchuk – Azmaiparashvili, Linares 1993 (annotated moves truncated here) is a textbook demonstration: White keeps the pawn shield, defuses Black’s queenside activity, and later wins in the endgame.
Key Tactical Motifs
- e5-breaks: After Bf4, the move e4–e5 can be devastating because Black’s knight on f6 is pinned against c7.
- c-file Pins: If Black plays …bxc4 and lays claim to the open b-file, the bishop on f4 plus a rook on c1 can pin a knight on c6.
- Delayed Benko Sacrifice: Black may still try …bxc4 and …Qa5+, but the interposed bishop allows White to meet it safely with Nc3.
Common Plans for Both Sides
- White
- Develop harmoniously: e3, Nf3, Nc3, h3, Bd3 or Be2, Qc2.
- Either keep the pawn chain closed or capture on b5 at a convenient moment.
- Prepare e4–e5 or f3–e4 to expand in the centre.
- On the queenside, a4 can fix the b-pawn and limit …a6.
- Black
- Expedite …g6 and …Bg7 for Benko-style pressure along the long diagonal.
- Prepare …bxc4 to open the b-file, or …e6 to strike at d5.
- Utilise the a- and b-files with doubled rooks once lines open.
- If White castles kingside, consider …Nh5–f4 jumps exploiting the bishop on f4.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The line was originally called the “Larsen Variation” in some older literature, honouring Bent Larsen’s frequent use of early Bf4 systems.
- In the 1971 Candidates, Bobby Fischer expected a Benko Gambit from Mark Taimanov. Taimanov avoided it partly because he had no answer to Fischer’s planned Bishop Attack.
- Modern computer engines give the Bishop Attack a small but stable plus for White (≈ +0.30), reinforcing its practical value.
Further Study
Good references include:
- “The Benko Gambit Explained” by Jan Pinski – Chapter 6.
- “Play the Benko Gambit” by Nicolai V. Pedersen (New in Chess, 2022) – Anti-Benko systems.
- ChessBase Opening Tree ECO A57.