Benko Gambit Half Accepted - Dlugy Variation
Benko Gambit Half Accepted – Dlugy Variation
Definition
The Benko Gambit Half Accepted, also known as the Dlugy Variation, is a branch of the Benko (Volga) Gambit that arises after the moves:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6
By playing 5.b6, White “half–accepts” the gambit: the pawn on b5 is captured, but the pawn on a6 is deliberately not taken (contrast 5.bxa6, the Fully Accepted main line). The move 5.b6 was popularised by GM Maxim Dlugy in the late 1980s, hence the name of the variation.
Move-Order & Typical Continuations
The position after 5.b6 is strategically tense. Black has three main replies:
-
5…Qxb6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 d6 8.Nf3 Bg7 – the “classical” Dlugy tabiya.
Black regains the pawn but the usual Benko pressure is muted because neither the a- nor the b-file is fully open. - 5…e6 6.Nc3 exd5 7.Nxd5 Bb7 – Black keeps queenside tension and strikes in the center before recapturing on b6.
- 5…g6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.e4 – Black ignores the pawn for the moment, trying to generate Benko-style pressure without material balance.
Strategic Themes
- Queenside Space for White: The pawn on b6 cramps Black’s pieces, especially the queen’s rook and queen’s knight.
- Limited File Play for Black: With neither a- nor b-files fully open, Black’s hallmark Benko rook activity is delayed.
- Central Counterplay: To compensate, Black must strike in the center with …e6, …e5, or …d6 followed by …e6.
- Minor-Piece Battles: The light-squared bishops often determine the middlegame; Black’s Bf8 aims for g7, while White’s c1-bishop can emerge via g5 or f4.
- Endgame Edge for White: If the queenside remains blocked and material equality is restored, White’s extra space usually tells in simplified positions.
Historical Context
Although the Benko Gambit itself dates back to the 1930s (Volga Gambit), the Half-Accepted line was comparatively obscure until American GM Maxim Dlugy began employing 5.b6 in the mid-1980s. His successes—especially in U.S. Championship cycles—sparked analytical interest, and the variation soon appeared in grandmaster praxis worldwide.
Notable Games
- Dlugy – Anand, Philadelphia 1991: White used a central expansion with e4–e5 to neutralise Black’s compensation and won a pawn-up endgame.
- Kramnik – Topalov, Dortmund 1998: A high-profile draw that showcased balanced chances; Kramnik’s pawn wedge on b6 stifled Topalov’s queenside activity.
- Aronian – Caruana, Wijk aan Zee 2014: Caruana chose 5…e6, demonstrating modern dynamic ideas, yet Aronian’s spatial grip yielded a lasting edge before the game was eventually drawn.
Example Line
A typical modern sequence illustrating key ideas:
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Maxim Dlugy allegedly discovered 5.b6 while analysing from the Black side; he switched colours after realising how annoying the pawn wedge felt!
- Engines rate 5.b6 as one of White’s most challenging answers to the Benko, causing some Benko specialists to abandon the gambit altogether in classical time controls.
- The term “Half Accepted” mirrors terminology in the Queen’s Gambit, where White accepts one pawn but not the whole gambit offer.
Practical Tips
- For White: Avoid premature pawn breaks; maintain the b6 wedge and build in the center with e4–e5.
- For Black: Strike back quickly—either with …e6 and …exd5 or by regaining the pawn via …Qxb6—before White consolidates.
- Be alert to queen manoeuvres: …Qa5+, …bxa6 en passant motifs, and exchanges on c3 can radically change the evaluation.