Benko Gambit
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5
4. cxb5+0.65
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Benko Gambit (A57), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. cxb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.65).
Top engine moves
- +0.654. cxb5 a6 5. e3 e6 6. dxe6 fxe6 7. Nf3 d5 8. Nc3 Nbd7
- +0.424. Nd2 bxc4 5. e4 g6 6. Bxc4 d6 7. b3 Bg7 8. Bb2 O-O
- +0.394. Nf3 Bb7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. h4 g6 7. Nc3 Qa5 8. Qc2 Bg7
Other move orders
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 d6 9. g3
All Benko Gambit variations (6)
- Mutkin CountergambitA571. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. g4
- Nescafe Frappe AttackA571. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3 axb5 6. e4 b4 7. Nb5 d6 8. Bc4
- Zaitsev SystemA571. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3
- Zaitsev Variation, Nescafe Frappe AttackA571. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. Nc3 axb5 6. e4 b4 7. Nb5
- Fianchetto VariationA581. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. g3
- Nd2 VariationA581. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. Nd2
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Benko Gambit?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. cxb5 for White, continuing a6 5. e3 e6 6. dxe6 fxe6 7. Nf3 d5 8. Nc3 Nbd7. White is slightly better (+0.65). The next best moves are 4. Nd2 (+0.42) and 4. Nf3 (+0.39).
Is the Benko Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.65: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Benko Gambit?
A57. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.
Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).