Old Benoni: 2.d5 e6

Old Benoni: 2.d5 e6

Definition

The move sequence 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e6 introduces a specific branch of the Old Benoni Defence, classified under ECO code A43. Black challenges White’s advanced d-pawn immediately with 2…e6, preparing …exd5 and accelerating kingside development. Unlike the Modern Benoni (which usually arises after 2…e6 3.c4 exd5), this line keeps the c-file tension intact for a few moves and often transposes to French-like or Queen’s Gambit structures.

Typical Move-Order

A common tabiya appears after:

Strategic Themes

• Pawn Structure: After …exd5, the central pawns often resemble a Caro-Kann or French structure, with an open c-file for Black and an isolated or backward d-pawn for White if queens are exchanged.
• Piece Play: Black seeks rapid development (…Nf6, …d6 or …d5, …g6) and pressure on the e4 and d5 squares. White, in turn, aims for space advantage and kingside activity, frequently using Bf4, e4–e5 breaks, or queenside expansion with c4.
• Transpositional Possibilities: Depending on whether White plays c2-c4, the game can shift into a Modern Benoni, a Benoni-French hybrid, or even a reversed Sicilian Defence.

Historical Context

The name “Benoni” (Hebrew for “son of sorrow”) first appeared in Aaron Reinganum’s 1825 treatise Ben-Oni, oder die Vertheidigungen gegen die Gambitzüge im Schache. The specific line with 2…e6 gained popularity in the mid-20^th century when players searched for combative but less theoretical responses to 1.d4. It has never become fully mainstream at the elite level, but it regularly serves as a surprise weapon.

Illustrative Games

1. M. Tal – V. Kortchnoi, Tallinn 1972
   Tal steered the game into the 2…e6 Old Benoni and later sacrificed a pawn for long-term piece activity, eventually converting an opposite-colored bishop ending. The encounter showcases the dynamic potential for both sides.
2. M. Adams – N. Short, British Ch. 2004
   After an early …g6 by Black, the struggle transposed to a Modern Benoni structure. Short equalised and later won, proving that accurate piece placement can neutralise White’s space advantage.

Key Ideas for Both Sides

• White
  • Create central tension with e2-e4, sometimes accepting an isolated queen’s pawn to activate pieces.
  • Maintain queenside space with c2-c4 and possibly a4 to restrain Black’s …b5 advance.
  • Avoid premature exchanges that help Black free the position.
• Black
  • Break with …f5 or …b5 when development is complete.
  • Use the half-open c-file for rook activity (…Rc8) and target c4 or c2.
  • In queenless middlegames, aim to blockade the isolated d-pawn with knights and press in the long run.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The line is affectionately dubbed the “Benoni-French” by club players because Black’s pawn chain often mimics a French Defence while the piece placement remains distinctly Benoni-like.
• Grandmaster Lev Psakhis, author of Benoni monographs, notes that 2…e6 is “the least explored yet most venomous” of the Old Benoni sidelines—making it a fertile ground for home preparation.
• Chess engines originally disliked Black’s position due to space deficit, but modern neural-network engines (e.g., Leela) often rate it as fully playable, inspiring a small renaissance in online rapid and blitz.

Practical Tips

If you face 1.d4 as Black and want an unbalanced fight without diving into dense Queen’s Gambit theory, the Old Benoni with 2…e6 can be learned rapidly:

• Memorise only a handful of critical continuations—most positions are “equal but sharp.”
• Study French Defence structures for endgame guidance.
• Watch model games by creative fighters such as Tal, Nakamura, and Morozevich, who have all flirted with the system.