Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Schmid Variation

Benoni Defense – Old Benoni

Definition

The Old Benoni is the family of positions that arises after the moves 1. d4 c5 2. d5. Black challenges White’s centre immediately with the flank–pawn thrust …c5, and White responds by pushing past to d5, creating a fixed pawn chain that tilts the centre toward the queenside. It is called “Old” to distinguish it from the better–known Modern Benoni (which usually starts 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5).

Main Ideas & Typical Plans

• Asymmetry from move two: The structure guarantees an unbalanced middlegame; draws are rare if both sides play ambitiously.
• Pawn tension: White enjoys extra space on the light squares (c4, d5, e4) while Black hopes to undermine those pawns with breaks such as …e6, …f5 or …b5.
• Piece activity over pawn structure: Black’s pawn on c5 can become weak, yet the open b- and c-files, plus the semi-open e-file, give ample counter-play opportunities.

Move-Order Branches

Unlike the Modern Benoni where Black first develops a knight, in the Old Benoni he usually selects one of three set-ups as early as move three:

1. …e6 & …exd5: Aiming for a French-like structure. Often transposes to Benoni: Franco-Benoni positions.
2. …e5 (the Closed Old Benoni): Creates a King’s Indian–style centre. The most theoretically respected continuation is the Schmid Variation (see next section).
3. Quick …b5 (the Tal-Lahtinen line): Gambits the b-pawn for rapid queenside activity; popular in blitz.

Historical Snapshot

The name “Benoni” (Hebrew for “son of sorrow”) first appeared in Aaron Reinganum’s 1825 opening treatise, predating modern move-order theory. The “Old” branch was prominent in the 19th century (Staunton, Steinitz) then fell into relative obscurity when hyper-modern openings stole the spotlight. It resurfaced during the 1960s thanks to creative handling by Grandmasters such as G. A. Keretário and Lothar Schmid.

Illustrative Mini-Game

A classical example showcasing the strategic themes is the miniature “Sarratt—McDonnell, London 1830,” ending in a picturesque rook sacrifice:

Interesting Facts

• The Old Benoni is one of the few openings that may gain in strength as faster time-controls become more popular—its surprise value can be lethal in rapid and blitz.
• Lothar Schmid, after whom the Schmid Variation is named, was also the chief arbiter of the historic 1972 Fischer–Spassky match.

Old Benoni, Schmid Variation

Definition

The Schmid Variation is a principled way for Black to continue the Old Benoni with an immediate …e5, building a robust pawn chain on dark squares and fianchettoing the king’s bishop. A commonly cited starting position is:

1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 (ECO A43).

Strategic Features

• Fixed Centre: The pawns d5–e4 versus d6–e5 resemble a King’s Indian Defence in reverse colours; play often hinges on pawn breaks …f5 (for Black) or f4 (for White).
• King-side Counter-play: Black’s g-fianchetto eyes the d4–square and prepares …f5, …Nf6, …Nh5, and possibly …f4.
• Queenside Levers: White retains the a2–a4 or b2-b4 pawn breaks, sometimes combined with Be3, Qd2, and a quick long castling reminiscent of certain Sicilian Yugoslav attacks.
• Space vs. Solidity: White’s extra space is counterbalanced by Black’s iron-clad central dark-square control.

Historical & Theoretical Notes

Grandmaster Lothar Schmid (Germany, 1928-2013) popularised the line in the 1950s–60s, scoring several notable upsets against contemporaries who were unprepared for the unusual pawn structure. The variation never gained the same following as the Modern Benoni but remains a sound surprise weapon: engines evaluate the starting diagram at roughly equal (≈0.00 to +0.20), yet practical chances abound.

Model Game

Schmid – Teschner, West Germany 1962 illustrates Black’s dynamic resources:

Typical Tactical Motifs

• …f5 Break-through: Opening the f-file for a rook lift to f6–g6.
• Dark-Square Clamp: …Bg7, …Nd7-c5, and …a5 can lock down the long diagonal while freezing White’s queenside pawns.
• Knight Outposts: Black often manoeuvres a knight to f4; White aims for c4 or e4.

Practical Advice

1. For Black: Do not delay …f5 too long; if White stabilises with f3 & g4 the kingside offensive may stall.
2. For White: Timely piece exchanges (especially of the dark-square bishop) and queenside expansion are essential to blunt Black’s attack.

Trivia

• Because the move order bypasses 1…Nf6, players who fear anti-Benoni systems like 2. Nf3 or 2. c4 avoid them entirely—another practical advantage of the Old Benoni.
• Some databases also label the line with early …Nf6 (after 2…Nf6 3. Nc3 e5) as “Schmid Variation,” so always check the exact move order.