Benoni Defense: Modern Snake Variation
Benoni Defense, Modern – Snake Variation
Definition
The Snake Variation is an off-beat but fully fledged system for Black in the Modern Benoni. It arises after the characteristic Benoni pawn structure (…c5 and …d6 against White’s d4–d5 chain) and is distinguished by the “snaking” journey of Black’s dark-squared bishop: instead of the classical development to g7, the bishop often appears first on d6 and may later drift to c7, b8 or a5, continually changing its diagonal and striking at the white king’s position on h2. Because the bishop seems to slither from square to square, the late English IM Michael Basman jokingly christened the line the “Snake Benoni”, and the name caught on in the 1970s.
Typical Move Order
One of the most common move-orders is:
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. c4 c5
- 3. d5 e6
- 4. Nc3 exd5
- 5. cxd5 d6
- 6. Nf3 g6
- 7. e4 Bg7
- 8. h3 (preparing g4 or simply preventing …Bg4) O-O
- 9. Bd3 Re8
- 10. O-O Bd7
- 11. Re1 Bd6! → the bishop’s first “coil”
From d6 the bishop eyes h2 and can later retreat to c7, b8 or a5 as circumstances dictate. Other routes into the Snake are possible; what matters is the early …Bd6 and the willingness to keep the bishop mobile rather than fixed on g7.
Strategic Ideas
- Pressure on the long diagonal h2–b8. By avoiding an immediate fianchetto, Black preserves the option of hitting h2 from an unexpected angle.
- Restraint, then counter-punch. Black keeps the position flexible; if White over-extends with e5 or f4-f5 too early, breaks with …b5 or …c4 become powerful.
- Queenside pawn storms. As in most Benoni structures, …b5 and …a6 are thematic, but the Snake bishop on b8 or a5 additionally supports the thrust.
- Central dark-square control. …Nbd7-e5 and …c4 often place a knight on d3 or c4, tying White to the defence of b2 and d2.
- King-side safety questions. Because the g-pawn has already moved to g6, Black’s king is normally safe, but the absence of the bishop on g7 means that the h8 rook sometimes has defensive duties along the eighth rank.
Historical Development
Although experiments with …Bd6 can be traced back to the 1950s, the line achieved real theoretical status when the creative English masters Michael Basman and Mark Hebden began playing it consistently in the mid-1970s. Hebden scored several striking wins in British Championship play, while Basman’s colourful commentary popularised the “snake” imagery. During the 1990s the variation attracted grandmaster attention—most notably from GM Vugar Gashimov and GM Aleksandr Mironov—but it has never displaced the mainstream 7…Bg7 setups. Today it remains a fighting surprise weapon that sidelines many yards of cutting-edge Benoni theory.
Illustrative Example
The following miniature is a classic demonstration of the bishop’s “slither”. Black never castles long, but the bishop visits three different diagonals before deciding the game.
Notice how the bishop’s route f8–d6–c7–b6–c5 confused White and ultimately helped penetrate on the dark squares.
Practical Tips
- Black: be patient. Do not hurry …b5 until your pieces are harmonised; the “snake” works best when the bishop has a retreat square ready.
- White: consider an early f2-f4 and Nf3-d2 to blunt the bishop, or adopt the Fianchetto System (g3, Bg2) to control dark squares.
- Both sides should watch the thematic break …c4 (for Black) or e4-e5 (for White); the timing of these pawn thrusts often decides the middlegame.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The line’s inventor, Michael Basman, also created the Tiger Modern (1…g6 2…Bg7) and the Grob Attack (1.g4). He once remarked that the Snake Benoni “makes opponents spend 15 minutes on move 10—then another hour wondering what went wrong.”
- GM Mark Hebden used the Snake to beat future World Championship challenger GM Nigel Short in the 1986 British League—arguably the variation’s highest-profile scalp.
- Because engines initially disliked the self-blocking move …Bd6, the variation was thought dubious for many years; however, modern neural-network engines show dynamic equality, vindicating Basman’s intuition.
- The bishop’s meandering plan often produces unusual piece placements; it is one of the rare mainstream openings where Black’s light-squared bishop can legitimately appear on a5 in the middlegame without being misplaced.