Old Benoni: Czech Variation (3.c4 d6 4.e4 Be7)
Old Benoni: Czech Variation (1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. c4 d6 4. e4 Be7)
Definition
The Czech Variation of the Old Benoni Defence arises after the moves 1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. c4 d6 4. e4 Be7. Black combines the Old Benoni move order (…c5 on move 1) with a characteristically Czech Benoni pawn structure (…e5 and …d6 locking the centre). The result is a closed, strategic opening in which both sides manoeuvre behind a fixed pawn chain: White’s pawns on d5–c4–e4 versus Black’s on e5–d6–c5.
Typical Move Order
The opening can be reached in several ways; the most common full sequence is:
- 1. d4 c5 – Black challenges the centre immediately.
- 2. d5 e5 – The central pawn lever defines the Czech set-up.
- 3. c4 – White supports the d-pawn and grabs space.
- 3…d6 – Bolstering the e5-pawn and fixing the pawn chain.
- 4. e4 – White builds a huge spatial advantage.
- 4…Be7 – Black develops safely, eyeing the g5–d8 diagonal.
Strategic Themes
- Closed Centre & Pawn Chains: The locked pawns mean plans revolve around pawn breaks (b2-b4, f2-f4 for White; …f5, …b5 for Black) and piece manoeuvres rather than immediate tactics.
- Space vs. Solidity: White enjoys more room, especially on the kingside, and often chooses a slow kingside pawn storm. Black accepts cramp in return for a rock-solid centre and long-term counterplay.
- Breaks & Counter-play: Black’s chief breaks are …f5 (challenging e4) and …b5 (undermining c4). White’s typical levers are f2-f4, b2-b4, and sometimes g2-g4.
- Piece Placement: • Knights: White usually parks one knight on c3 and reroutes the f3-knight to d2–f1–g3 or e3. • Bishops: Black’s dark-squared bishop often goes to g5 or h4 after …Bg5, pinning the knight; the light-squared bishop may fianchetto to g7 after …g6.
Historical Background
The Czech Benoni (more commonly arising from 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5) was popularised in the 1960s by Czech and Slovak grandmasters such as Luděk Pachman and Vlastimil Hort. The Old Benoni move order with 1…c5 is rarer but has the upside of sidestepping many Anti-Benoni systems. Modern practitioners—e.g. GM Jobava and GM Saric—occasionally adopt it as a surprise weapon.
Representative Games
-
Morozevich – Jobava, European Club Cup 2010
White expanded on the kingside with f2-f4 and g2-g4, but Jobava’s timely …f5 break created an outpost on e4 and led to a counter-attack that eventually netted the point. -
Hort – Pachman, Czechoslovak Championship 1965
One of the earliest high-level examples. Hort broke with b2-b4, fixing Black’s queenside pawns, then transferred a knight to f5 to exploit dark-square weaknesses.
Typical Plans Illustrated
The following mini-game shows the strategic essence in 20 moves: [[Pgn| d4|c5|d5|e5|c4|d6|e4|Be7| Nc3|Nf6|Nf3|O-O|Be2|Ne8|O-O|g6| Bh6|Ng7|Qd2|f5|exf5|gxf5| Ne1|f4|g3|fxg3|fxg3|Rxf1+| Bxf1|Nf5|Be3|Nd4 ]]
Pros & Cons
- Pros for Black
- Sidesteps mainstream Benoni theory (no Nimzo-Indian or Benko).
- Leads to strategically rich, manoeuvring positions.
- White’s extra space can become overextended.
- Cons for Black
- Cramped; pieces may lack good squares if breaks are delayed.
- White often enjoys a safe plan of kingside expansion.
- If Black mishandles …f5 or …b5, the position can collapse quickly.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The name “Czech Benoni” stems from 1920s Prague tournaments where the setup was first analysed in depth.
- A young Garry Kasparov tried the Czech Benoni against Eugene Torre (Tilburg 1980) but soon abandoned it, saying, “Too passive for long-term use.”
- Because the initial move 1…c5 can transpose to a pure Benoni, Benko Gambit, or even King’s Indian structures, Czech-Benoni specialists pride themselves on flexibility.
- The structure mirrors the French Defence’s “Chain Variation” (d4–e5 vs. e6–d5) flipped 90°, so thematic manoeuvres like …f6 in the French translate to …f5 here.
When to Choose the Czech Old Benoni
Ideal if you:
- Enjoy closed, strategic fights with gradual manoeuvring.
- Want to avoid heavily analysed open Benoni main lines.
- Are comfortable playing from a slightly cramped position while waiting for the right pawn break.
Concluding Remarks
The Old Benoni: Czech Variation remains a niche but fully respectable weapon. Its rich pawn-chain battles reward players who study typical manoeuvres and pawn breaks more than concrete forcing lines, making it an excellent choice for over-the-board play and for surprising well-prepared opponents in rapid or blitz time-controls.