Old Benoni: Clarendon Court (3.c4)
Old Benoni — Clarendon Court Variation (3.c4)
Definition
The Clarendon Court Variation is a branch of the Old Benoni Defence that arises after the moves 1. d4 c5 2. d5 e6 3. c4. White immediately supports the advanced d-pawn with a second pawn, building a broad space advantage on the queenside and in the centre. Black, having refrained from the customary …Nf6 in favour of …e6, prepares either …exd5 followed by …d6 (a structure resembling a Modern Benoni) or a rapid …b5 break.
Nomenclature & Origins
• Old Benoni distinguishes the defence 1…c5 against 1.d4 from the Modern Benoni that
begins with 1…Nf6 2.c4 c5.
• The sub-name Clarendon Court was coined by English players
Tony Miles, Michael Basman and colleagues who analysed the line in the early 1970s while
lodging at Clarendon Court, a London student residence.
Their analysis sessions popularised the idea of delaying …Nf6 to keep options flexible.
Typical Move Order
1. d4 c5 2. d5 e6 3. c4 (Clarendon Court)
3…exd5 4. cxd5 d6 5. Nc3 g6 is the most common continuation, transposing to
a Modern Benoni where Black’s knight is still on g8.
Strategic Ideas
- White aims to
- Clamp the centre with pawns on d5 and c4, restricting Black’s pawn breaks.
- Push e2–e4 to seize even more space, then develop naturally with Nc3, Nf3, Be2, 0-0.
- Create queenside pressure with a2–a4, Ra3, or Nb5, exploiting the half-open c-file.
- Black counters by
- Undermining the white chain with …f5 or the immediate …b5 pawn break.
- Fianchettoing the king’s bishop (…g6, …Bg7) to apply pressure on d4/d5.
- Delaying …Nf6 so that …f7-f5 or …f7-f6 can be played without locking the knight.
Plans & Themes
- Benoni-style counterplay: After 3…exd5 4.cxd5 d6, Black can enter familiar Modern Benoni setups—pressure on the e-file, …Re8, …Nbd7, and queenside pawns rolling with …a6 and …b5.
- Immediate …b5: A sharp alternative is 3…b5!? seeking counter-punching chances and forcing White to choose between grabbing material (cxb5) or maintaining the centre (e4, Nc3).
- Structural flexibility: Because the knight is still on g8, Black can select the best square (e7, f6 or h6) in response to White’s setup.
Historical & Practical Significance
The Clarendon Court never became a mainstream top-level choice, yet it served as a dangerous surprise weapon:
- Tony Miles used it in the mid-1970s, upsetting several strong GMs.
- English innovator Michael Basman adopted it regularly, fitting his penchant for off-beat openings.
- In recent years, it has enjoyed sporadic appearances in rapid & blitz, notably by creative players such as Baadur Jobava.
Illustrative Mini-Game
A short attacking win by Tony Miles shows typical handling:
White’s space advantage allowed a direct kingside pawn storm, a common Clarendon Court theme.
Model Game for Study
Speelman – Miles, Birmingham 1979.
Miles equalised smoothly and later broke through on the queenside. The game is
highly instructive for Black’s …b5 plans. (Students are encouraged to replay it in full.)
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The name “Clarendon Court” beats most opening nicknames for origin trivia— it refers to a dormitory building, not a person or city.
- Because of the delay of …Nf6, the line sometimes transposes to a Benko Gambit after 3…b5 4.cxb5 a6, giving Black yet another stylistic option.
- Engine assessments hover around equality, but practical chances are rich because plans are less familiar to opponents expecting mainstream Modern Benoni theory.
When to Use the Variation
Choose the Clarendon Court if you
- Prefer unbalanced, strategic middlegames with multiple pawn-break options.
- Want to sidestep deep Modern Benoni theory beginning with 2…Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 exd5.
- Enjoy catching opponents off-guard in rapid or blitz, where time to navigate novel pawn structures is scarce.