Annotated chess game

Why is not Nf3 to prefer here? Are there any theoretical reasons? Doesn't it seem to offer decent chances for white (at the same time as it succeeds precisely to avoid theory, which may be a point in itself).

Entering a game that requires from Black a lot of patience...

Not a bad choice for OTB play, as it might catch white unprepared.

Another game is dxe6 e.p.

What are the thoughts on the benko gambit? @charleshiggie I meant what are the thoughts of it's solidarity and whether its sound or not

The Benko Gambit is a chess opening characterised by the move 3...b5 in the Benoni Defense arising after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5. en.wikipedia.org. According to the databases, 3.....b5 a more popular option than e6, e5 or g6. I think it is a fairly easy to play system for Black, and often when facing it as white I decline it.

With the center locked up, white has a choice of two plans: expand on the Q-side, playing for b4, or on the K-side, playing for f4. Charles chooses the latter one. If white wants to play on the Q-side, he'll typically play Bd3/h3/g4 first to restrain black's K-side ambitions, as black will want to counterattack with ...f5.

I think 7...Nbd2 is slightly inaccurate. Black has a slightly cramped position, and one way to ease that is by exchanging dark-squared bishops with 7...Ne8 intending ...Bg5. Perhaps with white having played g3, black was concerned about ...Bg5 being answered with f4, but I don't think that's necessarily bad for black.

I don't agree. On the opening databases Ne8 is more commonly played, but Nbd7 is the second most commonly played move, and scores a better rating that Ne8 (2352 compared to 2330) and has better results, white winning 48% of the time against Ne8 against 44% for Nbd7.

But, Charles, with such trivial statistical differences reasonable confidence is surely very low.

...but spends a tempo when white's attack is approaching. Can be thinkable h6, or even h5, making room for the Nf6 in order to get to h7 and help preparing f5?

The most commonly played move in this position is Ne8, preparing g6, a6 or Bg5

I don't think this is bad, if white intends to play on the K-side, then looking for counter-play on the Q-side makes sense. It looks like black should have time for ...a6/...Rb8/...b5.

I personally tend not to castle on the same side where I am going to attack. But of course, o-o-o is still far, and it gives black good chances of counter attack the queenside...

0-0 first is better i think! But f4 shows your passion like you are 16 years old!!!

0-0 is the most commonly played move here, with a4 and Na4 have also been played.

Hmm, if the centre is fixed then maybe it is better to hang fire on castling, particularly if you can get a pawn storm going on that wing.

Wiser than me theorist surely have said a lot about such a standard position. But this move frees a lot white's game. Of course after white's f5 black's game is squeezed, but he would still dominate black's diagonal.

? having played ...a6, black now has the perfect opportunity to counter-attack immediately with 9...b5!. For example, 9...b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.Nxb5 Qa4+ is now a Benko position that's good for black: ...Ba6/...c4/...Nc5 are in the cards with excellent play.

Yes, the computer "Shredder" gives b5, followed by 10.cxb5 axb5 11.Nxb5 and the Ba6 immediately as an alternative to exf4. It also suggests exchanging on f4 first and then playing b5.

Weakens White's K-side, but how is Black to exploit it? I like this sort of thing, and it does make the Czech Benoni a risky undertaking in my view.

Shredder thinks black should either sac a pawn now - b5, 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Ne8 13. 0-0 f5 14. exf5 or b5, 11. cxb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Ba6 13. Nbc3 Kh8 14. 0-0 Ng4 and says the position is equal - or play Re8 - again with equality. Although in my view it is very much dynamic equality with chances for both sides, as opposed to boring equality heading for a draw.

Hmm, opening the g column does give a half-open file for a white rook to go on and face the black king.

The ...b5 move was going to be difficult to force through, methinks. The move played carries a threat that must be answered...

If black was going to gambit a pawn, she should have done it last move when white didn't have e5 available as a response. I don't like ...Nb6 - after white defends the c-pawn, this N is badly placed. I'd play either 10...Rb8 or 10...Qc7 here, discouraging white from playing e5 and keeping the option of playing ...b5 (the threat is, if black pushes her b-pawn, e5 and if ...dxe5? then d6!).

11.Qb3 was the other option, but White has his sights set on the K-side.

I did also consider b3, defending the c pawn with another pawn and maybe playing my Bc1 to b2.

Why not?