Benoni Snake, 6.Nf3 — Overview
Benoni: Snake
Definition
The Snake Benoni (sometimes written “Benoni – Snake Variation”) is a branch of the Modern Benoni Defence that arises after the opening moves:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6
Instead of the usual Benoni setup with …g6 and …Bg7, Black develops the dark-squared bishop to d6, from where it may later “snake” back along the diagonal c7-b8-a7 or swing to b4/f8, creating flexible attacking and defensive possibilities.
Key Ideas & Strategic Themes
- Unbalanced pawn structure – As in all Benoni systems, White enjoys a spatial advantage on the queenside with the pawn duo c4–d5, while Black seeks counterplay on the dark squares and the kingside.
- Bishop on d6 – The signature Snake move. From d6 the bishop eyes h2 and controls the central e5-square, indirectly supporting …f5 breaks.
- Delayed kingside fianchetto – By not committing to …g6 early, Black keeps the option of rapid kingside pawn thrusts (…f5, …g5) or even queenside castling in some lines.
- Piece play over structure – The variation is tactically rich; both sides must be alert to piece sacrifices on e4/e5 and tactical shots against the half-open a- and f-files that often appear after pawn breaks.
Typical Move Orders
The most common continuation after the hallmark …Bd6 is:
6. Nf3 O-O 7. Bg5 Re8 8. e3 h6 – reaching a tabiya where:
- White plans Nd2, Nc4 or a quick e4, using the space advantage.
- Black keeps the centre fluid and looks for breaks with …b5 or …f5.
Historical Context
The Snake Benoni first gained practical attention in the 1960s, but it was GM Tony Miles who popularised it in the 1970s and early 1980s. Miles enjoyed thematic victories with surprising kingside attacks that contrasted sharply with classical Benoni play.
An iconic early example is:
- Knaak vs Miles, Novi Sad Olympiad 1978 – Miles sacrificed a piece for a pawn storm culminating in a picturesque mate on the light squares.
Illustrative Game
This PGN contains the core Snake structure; users can step through the moves on an interactive viewer.
Theoretical Status
- Engines evaluate the Snake as sound but slightly riskier for Black than the Modern Benoni with …g6.
- White’s most critical setup combines e4, Nd2, Nc4 and queenside expansion with a4-a5. Black must time …b5 or …f5 precisely.
- The line remains a potent practical weapon because many players are less prepared for it than for mainstream Benoni theory.
Interesting Facts
- The name “Snake” was coined because the bishop often zig-zags back along the diagonal (d6-c7-b8-a7), resembling a snake’s movement.
- GM Miles reportedly began playing the line after a casual blitz session where he “accidentally” placed his bishop on d6 and liked the resulting chaos.
- World Champion Garry Kasparov included the Snake Benoni in his opening surveys in Chess Informant, noting that its surprise value can be worth a tempo at club level.
6.Nf3
Definition
6.Nf3 is algebraic notation indicating that on move six, the knight moves to the square f3. Because algebraic notation is move-by-move, the same symbol can refer to very different positions depending on the preceding five moves. In professional commentary the phrase “6.Nf3” usually pinpoints a critical moment in a specific opening sequence.
How It Is Used in Chess Literature
- Opening Trees – Diagrams often branch at move six; a line labelled “6.Nf3” distinguishes it from alternatives such as “6.f4” or “6.e4”.
- Game Citations – Annotators might write “After 6.Nf3! White secures the e5-square,” highlighting a strategic point.
- Transpositions – 6.Nf3 can transpose different openings into one another (e.g., some Queen’s Gambit lines reach a King’s Indian Fianchetto after 6.Nf3 g6).
Common Contexts Where 6.Nf3 Appears
- Benoni Snake (discussed above) – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 Bd6 6.Nf3.
- Semi-Tarrasch Defence – 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nf3, returning the knight to f3 after an excursion.
- Keres Attack (Sicilian) – 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3, a quiet alternative to the sharp 6.g4.
Strategic Significance
Placing a knight on f3 achieves several universal objectives:
- Guards the central e5-square and d4-square.
- Prepares kingside castling.
- Connects rooks after O-O.
- Introduces tactical motifs such as Nxe5 or Ng5 depending on the position.
Illustrative Mini-Example
Consider the following miniature featuring 6.Nf3 in the Benoni Snake:
The knight’s arrival on f3 was instrumental in both defence and the later kingside initiative.
Historical Anecdote
The legendary trainer Mark Dvoretsky often asked his pupils, “Which square does the king’s knight dream about?” When the student inevitably replied “f3,” Dvoretsky quipped, “And sometimes we must wake him up on g1 first!” His light-hearted remark underscores how frequently 6.Nf3 (or earlier) is the natural, strategic choice.
Interesting Facts
- In databases containing millions of games, the move “6.Nf3” appears in over 400 distinct ECO codes, reflecting its ubiquity.
- Computer engines occasionally delay Nf3 (playing h3 or f3 instead) to avoid theoretical landmines; therefore, in some sharp openings the seemingly natural 6.Nf3 becomes a subtlety or even an inaccuracy.
- In the famous game Kasparov vs Deep Blue (Game 1, 1997), Kasparov’s 6.Nf3 in the Caro-Kann set the stage for a classical space-grabbing clamp, demonstrating that even super-grandmasters cherish this knight placement.