Benko Gambit Accepted: Castle By Hand

A rather dogmatic and not particular pragmatic quote by Tarrasch claims the best way to refute a gambit is to accept it. I have about decided that is the case for the Volga Gambit or as Americans like to call it, the Benko Gambit. Black gives White a passed a pawn directly out of the opening for pressure on the Queen Side.

 Black often is willing to exchange Queens a pawn down due to his confidence the attacking chances and pressure on the Queen Side will pay dividends.

Rapaz of Spain, who loves the Benko Gambit, did just that in this game that was played at The Internet Chess Club. Black played his Queen to the a5 square inviting Bd2 and a discovered attack on his Queen. After Rfb8 and Qc2, Black played Qa4 followed by a3 for White which lead to an exchange of Queens at b3.



In this USCF expert's view, Black is down a pawn and struggling to draw. I am sure many Benko Gambit fans vehemently oppose this assertion. White happened to win this game which certainly is no refutation of Black's strategy.