The Benko gambit was promoted by Paul Benko, who was a Hungarian-American chess grandmaster. Let’s start our discussion on the benko gambit accepted, I will explain all ideas and variations in the benko gambit accepted and I will also provide my own experience as well.

The Benko gambit starts when white accepts the gambit on move 5 with axb6, white gets an extra pawn and black gets extra space on queenside. It’s a battle of the center and queenside fight.

Here is the starting position of the Benko gambit accepted.

In this above position, black is giving the extra pawn to white and in return, black is getting the queenside space.

Now black is offering again another pawn to white in order to open the battlefield on the queen’s side. White has no better choice, and white should accept the benko gambit for the advantage, there for white takes the pawn and accepts the gambit.

Benko Gambit Accepted Theory

The theory of the Benko gambit accepted is very easy, you just have to understand what’s the reason behind sacrificing the pawn in the opening and what will black get for the sacrificed pawn.

• White will be unable to hold the pressure on the queen’s side and he will give back the pawn or will create permanent weakness in his camp.
• Black’s plan is very clear and straightforward put as much pressure on the queenside as you can.

These two points are enough and that’s the theory you need for playing against the benko gambit accepted.

Here is the picture of the Benko gambit accepted below.

In this position black’s best move which I recommend is g6. The point of g6 is that black is waiting for white’s move b3. Against Benko white plays a fianchetto system where white fianchettos are both bishops.

And if white plays b3 here then white will capture a pawn with his knight and not with the bishop, because the knight will jump b4 attacking the d4 pawn a1 pawn.

Here is the picture of the position which I am talking about.

I have highlighted all black knight squares that the black knight will control. Now let’s back to our main repertoire of the Benko gambit accepted.

This is the position where many strong players have played the Benko gambit. The best practice for learning the opening is to watch what the best players are doing against it.

Here are the stats for this position.

After reading those stats you know that the Benko gambit is a sound defense against the d4 opening. In order to master the themes and ideas in the Benko gambit, you must learn and watch these chess games.

Benko Gambit Accepted Games

There are many top chess grandmasters who played the Benko gambit and some of the strong players are still playing.

Benko gambit accepted game 1 by Magnus Carlsen

Note: Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Benko gambit accepted game 2 by Magnus Carlsen

Note: Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Benko gambit accepted game 3 by Magnus Carlsen

Note: Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Benko Gambit Accepted Game 1 by Zaven Andriasian

Note: Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Benko Gambit Accepted Game 2 by Zaven Andriasian

Note: Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Best Chess Games in Benko Gambit Accepeted

For all the best chess games in Benko gambit, I have created another page where you can watch all the best chess games in Benko Gambit. Here is the link to the page: https://thechessforum.com/benko-gambit-games/.

Benko gambit fianchetto variation

You may see some of your opponents will play the Benko gambit fianchetto variation. The idea of the fianchetto variation is to protect queenside pawns by playing b3 and fianchettoing both bishops at g2 and b3.

For further study let’s watch some games in fianchetto variation so you can understand how black will respond.

Benko gambit fianchetto variation game :1

Note: Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

Benko gambit fianchetto variation game :2

Note: Please flip the board to the black side for a better view.

After watching these games you will have enough knowledge and theory on how to play Benko gambit accepted variation. Let’s summarize Benko’s gambit accepted.

Summary of Benko Accepted

To conclude the Benko gambit is accepted, now you have understood the base ideas and themes by watching these chess games played by the best chess players. The main point of Benko’s gambit accepted is to put enough pressure on the queenside and create weakness there or get back pawns and it’s a very easy plan, which you need to follow.