Old Benoni Defense & Franco Benoni Defense
Old Benoni Defense
Definition
The Old Benoni Defense arises after the immediate pawn thrust 1…c5 against White’s first move 1. d4. The opening code in ECO is A43. Unlike the Modern Benoni (which introduces …c5 only after …Nf6 and 2 c4), the Old Benoni strikes at the d-pawn on move 1, often leading to original, unbalanced middlegames.
Typical Move Orders
- Main line: 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 – Black transposes into a structure reminiscent of the Modern Benoni but without having committed …g6.
- Czech Benoni setup: 1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 – a closed structure in which Black locks the center and plans …d6, …g6 and …Bg7.
- Deferred variation: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 – still called “Old Benoni” because …c5 precedes …e6 or …g6.
Strategic Ideas
Because Black contests the center at once, the position becomes asymmetrical very quickly:
- Space vs. counterplay – White enjoys extra space after d5, but Black gains open lines on the queenside (…b5, …a6) and pressure on e4 once White pushes the e-pawn.
- Pawn structure – After …exd5 cxd5, Black’s d-pawn can become backward, yet the semi-open e-file gives him activity for pieces.
- Piece placement – The king’s bishop may fianchetto to g7 (Modern style) or develop classically to e7/d6, depending on whether Black chooses …g6.
Historical Notes
The term “Benoni” comes from Aaron Reinganum’s 1825 monograph “Ben-Oni” (Hebrew: “son of sorrow”). The label “Old” differentiates the 1…c5 system, popular in the 19th century, from the Modern Benoni that surged after the 1953 Zurich Candidates Tournament.
Model Game Snippet
Although rare at elite level, the opening occasionally surfaces as a surprise weapon. In Bronstein – Palacios, Düsseldorf 1958, Black equalised comfortably:
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The Old Benoni lets Black force an unbalanced game on move 1—handy when playing for a win with Black.
- Because 1…c5 concedes a tempo compared with the Sicilian (where the move hits the center after 1. e4), many theoreticians long considered it dubious; modern engines, however, give it respectable equality in several lines.
- Mikhail Tal occasionally flirted with the Czech Benoni branch to sidestep heavy theory and steer play into complex maneuvering battles.
Franco Benoni Defense
Definition
The Franco Benoni (ECO codes E10 – E11) is a hybrid of the French Defense and the Benoni. It most commonly appears via 1. d4 e6 2. c4 c5, but can also arise from 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5. Black combines the French idea of …e6 (solid dark-square chain and flexible light-square bishop) with the Benoni’s queenside counterstrike …c5.
Typical Move Orders & Branches
- Main “French-move-order”: 1. d4 e6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 exd5 4. cxd5 d6 – Black trades in the center and heads for a Hedgehog-like setup with …g6 or …Be7.
- Delayed capture: 1. d4 e6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 – Black invites an IQP (isolated queen’s pawn) structure.
- Simplified Knight line: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. e3 – White treats the position like a Tarrasch Queen’s Gambit; Black can steer into Benoni or Blumenfeld setups.
Strategic Themes
- Central tension – The pawn duo d4/c4 vs. e6/c5 leads to IQP or Benoni structures, granting dynamic chances for both sides.
- Light-squared bishop – Unlike in the Classical Benoni (…g6), Black’s c8-bishop may develop outside the chain via …b6 and …Bb7 or even …Ba6.
- Flexible kingside – Because Black has not fianchettoed, he can castle either side; …f5 attacking formations mirror lines in the French Defense.
Historical Context
The name “Franco” references the French Defense foundations (…e6) while “Benoni” acknowledges the characteristic queenside thrust …c5. The system enjoyed a brief vogue in the 1960s and 70s when Efim Geller and David Bronstein experimented with it, but it never became mainstream because White can steer play into quieter Queen’s Gambit-type positions.
Illustrative Mini-game
Interesting Facts
- The Franco Benoni often transposes to a Benoni without …g6, letting Black avoid the critical Fianchetto System that troubles the Modern Benoni.
- Because the opening can be reached by several move orders, it is a useful anti-Queen’s Gambit weapon: after 1. d4 e6, Black can choose between the French (if White plays 2. e4) or the Franco Benoni (if White plays 2. c4).
- World Champion Boris Spassky employed the Franco Benoni to beat U.S. GM Larry Evans at Havana 1965, showcasing its attacking potential down the f-file.