Benko Gambit Half-Accepted, Zaitsev & Frappé Attack
Benko Gambit
Definition
The Benko Gambit is an ambitious reply to 1.d4 in which Black sacrifices a queenside pawn to obtain long-term positional pressure on the a- and b-files and strong activity for the fianchettoed bishop. The most common move order is:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5!?
After the thematic 4.cxb5 a6, Black offers a second pawn to open lines toward White’s queenside.
Strategic Ideas
- Queenside Pressure: By giving up material, Black gains open files for rooks on a8 and b8 and a half-open a-file for the queen or bishop.
- Long-term Compensation: The c8–h3 diagonal, powerful minor pieces, and a space advantage on the queenside replace the pawn.
- Endgame Potential: Even simplified positions can favour Black because the extra space and outside passed pawn chances persist.
Historical Significance
Grandmaster Pál Benkő popularised the gambit in the late 1960s. His convincing results and numerous analytical articles persuaded many grandmasters—among them Kasparov, Topalov, and Radjabov—to add the opening to their repertoires.
Illustrative Example
Kasparov–Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999, followed 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7, after which Black’s pressure along the a-file and dark squares compensated for the pawn and eventually decided the game. A condensed miniature:
Interesting Facts
- Benko once joked that he “lived off the royalties” of this opening—referring not to money, but to the pleasure of seeing it played at every level.
- Because engines evaluate the material deficit more soberly than humans, computers have often been reluctant to approve the gambit, yet it remains popular in human practice.
Half-Accepted (Benko Gambit, Half-Accepted Variation)
Definition
In the Half-Accepted line White captures the b-pawn but declines to take the a-pawn, intending instead to return material for rapid development or structural solidity. A typical sequence runs:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3! (or 5.b6)
White keeps the extra pawn for the moment, fortifies the centre, and prepares to complete development.
Typical Plans
- For White: Maintain the pawn on b5, reinforce with a4 or b6, and challenge Black’s queenside pressure by quick piece activity (Nc3, e4, Nf3).
- For Black: Recover the pawn with …axb5 or …Qa5+, then apply standard Benko pressure on the a- and b-files once material is level.
Strategic Significance
The variation offers an attractive compromise to players who like Benko-style play without entering the heavily analysed Full-Accepted main lines. Computers often rate the position as equal, yet both sides keep winning chances.
Sample Game
Leko–Topalov, Linares 2005: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 axb5 6.Bxb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Ba6 8.Bxa6 Nxa6. White gave back material but obtained a solid extra centre pawn; the struggle ended in a well-fought draw after 46 moves.
Anecdote
Because 5.e3 leads to positions resembling the Queen’s Indian, some players joke that the “Half-Accepted” is the “Selbstbedienung” (self-service) line—White takes what he likes and leaves the rest for later.
Zaitsev (Ruy Lopez, Zaitsev Variation)
Definition
The Zaitsev Variation is a dynamic line in the Ruy Lopez (Spanish) opening named after Soviet theoretician Igor Zaitsev. Its critical position arises after:
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Bb7
Ideas & Plans
- Black: Postpones the central break …d5 to keep tension, places pieces on natural squares (…Re8, …Bf8), and watches for the thematic …d5 or …exd4 followed by …Nc4.
- White: Chooses between quiet manoeuvres (Nbd2-f1-g3) or the sharp 10.d4 aiming for central expansion.
Historical Importance
Zaitsev served as one of Anatoly Karpov’s opening advisers. The line became famous during the Karpov-Kasparov World Championship matches (1984–1990). Both champions trusted it at the highest level, proving its soundness for Black.
Illustrative Encounter
Karpov – Kasparov, World Championship 1985 (Game 6): The players followed Zaitsev theory for 21 moves before Karpov’s novelty 22.a4!? eventually led to a positional squeeze and victory—one of Karpov’s most celebrated strategic games.
Interesting Tidbits
- The Zaitsev was one of the first elite openings to be exhaustively tested by computer-assisted preparation in the late 1980s.
- Because “Zaitsev” sounds like the Russian word for “hare,” Russian juniors sometimes nickname the line “the fast rabbit.”
Nescafé Frappé Attack
Definition
The Nescafé Frappé Attack is an enterprising anti-Benko setup for White, credited to Greek IMs from the 1990s who analysed it in Athens cafés while sipping the popular iced coffee. The critical starting position follows:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 a6 5.Bg5!?
Instead of capturing on b5 (as in the Accepted lines) or pushing 5.a4, White develops the bishop aggressively to pin the f6-knight, angling for e4 and a kingside initiative. Because the move appeared unorthodox yet refreshing—like the beverage—it earned the whimsical name.
Typical Continuations
- 5…Ne4 6.Bh4 g6 7.Nbd2 Nxg5 8.Nxg5, when White exploits the dark-square weaknesses.
- 5…d6 6.e4 h6 7.Bxf6 exf6 8.cxb5, transposing to favourable Half-Accepted structures but with Black’s pawn shield fractured.
Practical Use
- Surprise Weapon: Rare in top-level databases, it can catch habitual Benko players off guard.
- Mix of Positional & Tactical Play: White may still decline the gambit later, but keeps open the possibility of kingside attacks stemming from the early pin.
Notable Game
Papaioannou – Beliavsky, European Team Ch. 2010: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 a6 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bh4 g6 7.Qc2 f5?! 8.g4!—a coffee-charged assault that culminated in a stunning 25-move win for White.
Fun Facts
- Many Greek annotators literally inserted a ⛾ symbol (coffee cup) in magazines to denote the idea.
- The name sometimes appears in databases simply as “Frappé Attack” (ECO A57), though devotees insist on the full brand!