Old Benoni: 2.d5 b5 (Garratt Gambit)
Old Benoni: 2.d5 b5 (The Garratt Gambit)
Definition
The sequence 1.d4 c5 2.d5 b5 is an ambitious and very rare pawn sacrifice for Black in the Old Benoni. Black immediately counters White’s spatial grab on d5 by thrusting the b-pawn two squares, tempting White to over-extend on the queenside while opening rapid lines of play for the black pieces. The idea is sometimes labelled the Garratt Gambit, after early 20th-century English amateur J. Garratt who analyzed and played it.
Typical Move Order
The opening normally arises from:
- 1.d4 c5 (Old Benoni)
- 2.d5 b5 (Garratt Gambit)
Other transpositions are possible, e.g. 1.d4 Nf6 2.d5 c5 3.c4 b5!? but the essential hallmark is the immediate …b5 after White advances the d-pawn.
Usage in Practical Play
Because the pawn on b5 is en prise and Black gains no material compensation at once, the line is considered risky and appears mostly in:
- Correspondence or engine-assisted opening experiments
- Blitz & rapid games where surprise value is high
- Club-level encounters when Black seeks a sharp, unbalanced struggle
Strategic & Tactical Ideas
- Queenside Initiative: If White accepts the pawn (3.cxb5), Black often plays …a6, …Nf6, and …Bb7 aiming at the e4-square and quick development.
- Central Tension: The d5-pawn cramps Black; the gambit seeks to undermine it indirectly by diverting White’s c-pawn.
- Open Lines for Pieces: After …a6 and a later …Bb7, the long diagonal g2–a8 becomes a key avenue. Meanwhile the half-open b- and c-files give Black rook activity.
- King Safety: Black’s king usually castles kingside swiftly; White’s queenside pawns may be displaced, exposing the white king if it castles long.
- Risk vs Reward: Modern engines evaluate 2…b5?! as dubious (≈ +1.0 or worse for White), so Black must generate immediate play to justify the pawn.
Illustrative Mini-Game
One of the clearest demonstrations of Black’s compensatory ideas is the skirmish below. While not grandmaster level, it shows typical motifs:
White eventually consolidated the extra pawn, but Black’s active piece play kept the game double-edged for many moves.
Historical Significance
The line never gained mainstream acceptance, but it illustrates the exploratory nature of early Benoni theory:
- 1920s-30s: J. Garratt analyzed the gambit in British Chess Magazine, giving the line its unofficial name.
- 1960s: The gambit sporadically appeared in British county matches; noted Benoni expert Hugh Myers discussed it in his newsletters.
- Engine Era: Modern computers confirm White’s objective advantage, limiting the variation to a curiosity rather than a sound weapon.
Notable Games & References
- Lorenz–Myers, Correspondence 1965: Myers essayed the gambit and drew after sacrificing additional material for activity.
- Todorovic–Velicanin, Belgrade Blitz 1999: Black equalized impressively, demonstrating thematic …a6 and …Bb7 pressure.
- The Benoni Defense by Jan Pinski (2005) briefly cites 2…b5?! as “an interesting but probably unsound sideline.”
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The ECO code most often attached is A43, but mainstream databases file the exact move-order as “Uncommon Benoni”.
- Hugh Myers once quipped, “If you can pronounce ‘Benoni’ you can surely play 2…b5,” poking fun at the line’s swashbuckling reputation.
- In several early analyses, analysts suggested the mirror idea for White—offering White’s b-pawn after 1.d4 c5 2.c4?! but that fell into obscurity even faster.
Related Concepts
- Benko Gambit (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5): A sounder cousin where Black first resolves the center and has more positional trumps.
- Snake Benoni: Another rare Benoni offshoot, showing the family resemblance of provocative pawn moves.
- Classical Benoni Structure: d5 vs …e6/…d6 pawn chain, often reached if White declines the gambit and Black later plays …e6.
Bottom Line
The Garratt Gambit (Old Benoni: 2.d5 b5) is bold and creative but objectively unsound. Its value lies in surprise and in educating players about dynamic compensation, open lines, and the delicate balance between material and initiative.