Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Old Benoni Defense

Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Old Benoni Defense!
In today's video we go over a dangerously rare and strong response to 1. d4! The Old Benoni Defense is one of the best responses to d4 and in this video we cover the chess strategy, chess moves, chess ideas, chess principles, chess theory, chess traps, chess tricks, and a chess lesson. I only recommend playing this if you are an attacking chess player like Mikhail Tal or Garry Kasparov! This chess opening is also good because usually white is not prepared for it. Black is going to look to take immediate control of the center, quickly develop the pieces, and look to attack the opponent's king. Whether you are a chess beginner or a chess grandmaster, we hope you enjoy learning how to play the Old Benoni! The Old Benoni Defense is strong for it's chess opening theory, chess opening strategy, chess opening principles, chess opening moves, and chess opening ideas. We will look to show you secret chess strategy which will help you win the game fast. Keep playing good chess!
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[@fanoflanguages7278]

This is definitely an exciting way to play against 1.d4. Black does need to be ready for 2.e4 when it becomes a Smith-Morra gambit. I used to feel uncomfortable facing 1.d4, but now I hope my opponents play it so I can use the Old Benoni against them.

[@TheChessGiant]

That's true! I hadn't even thought of that transposition. Let me know how it works! Most d4 players (at least in my experience) aren't comfortable/prepared against it.

[@elontusk610]

Someone just used this against me. I’ve never seen it until 20 minutes ago... which is why I’m here.

[@iammichael1094]

Yeah, I am looking for a better answer to whites queen pawn opening as I tire of seeing the queen Gambit that follows.

[@TheChessGiant]

Totally!

[@humungous09]

I've been a Sicilian dragon player for quite some time now but whenever white goes for d4, I opt for old Benoni. It takes several newbies and intermediate guys off guard. Several traps were listed by Igor Smirnov in his videos though I'm not promoting him in here(first learnt it over there). Won many games against intermediate players with this. This video is very well made too and the explanation is great.

[@wodan7338]

Its nice when you can premove your opening as black. I mean, they can play something like Nf3 or Nc3, but the C pawn isn’t attacked anyway

[@marine4Christ88]

I know this is three years old, but I would love if you did some sort of old Benoni speed run. There’s nothing like it on KZbin. Excellent video😊

[@jonnylinny5467]

Qf6 in my recent online blitz. Oppo resigns. Thanks for the vid

[@s.a.j.7116]

Thanks for your great videos

[@srikripa3312]

Hey man can you make a video about the chess simul. You can play chess simul on lichess and make a stream or video on it. And plz tell me when did you make my requested video.

[@TheChessGiant]

I'll try and make that happen eventually, maybe once I have more subs I can create an event. And ya I'll let you know!

[@wanderair9999]

Réellement : Excellent !!! J'apprends beaucoup de vos vidéos, merci Solomon.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thank you a ton my guy! ❤️🙏🏽

[@skyeruddell3196]

Appreciate this, thanks for sharing it!

[@TheChessGiant]

No worries Skye! I hope it was helpful!

[@JaimeTheGamer]

Nice video. Thanks

[@edgarkais2430]

Great video, learnd the important things in just 10 mins. What do you do against 2.c3 ? I couldnt find anything better than cxd4 and enter into the boring exchange slav.

[@TheChessGiant]

Ya c3 is a really solid and honestly boring move. What I usually do is play Nf6, looking to play e5... and if a move like Nf3 just develop the pieces. I personally don't take on d4 but keep the tension and eventually play Qb6

[@MrAiyer]

Great video Solomon! Are you considering making a Catalan one?

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks man! Yep! I’ve been getting a lot of requests for that one so I’ll make that one soon

[@brianv.8055]

haha I just saw your video, went to Lichess and snatched my first rook xD

[@TheChessGiant]

Haha nice!

[@rohitdabral7249]

Interesting opening.

[@TheChessGiant]

Ya it is definitely very unique and different for sure - takes most d4 players out of their comfort zone after just a single move.

[@celinofj]

Amazing! Thank you.

[@TheChessGiant]

Of course Celino! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Let me know if there are any other chess opening videos you would want to see on this channel!

[@celinofj]

@@TheChessGiant I'm already using the agressive line ^^ Well, I would love to see several lines of the surprising Alekhine defence. A lot of players, especially beginners, always tend to play 1. e4, expecting e5, maybe c5. Nf6 is a beautiful answer to them :)

[@TheChessGiant]

@@celinofj Totally! We actually did make a video on the Alekhine Defense. I'll leave the link below, let me know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/najUopiZmspjnrs

[@josephkimani906]

Very educative tutorial indeed ... However, am interested to know whether the old Benoni is playable against the London and if so kindly cover for us an instructive tutorial about it .Thank you

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! And for sure thanks for sending this in. I would say that the London System simply is not possible vs the Old Benoni. Because if 2. Bf4 from white, we simply snatch off the d4 pawn. We then play Nc6 if the queen captures back, and continue with potential e5 and d5 pawn pushes. White is completely thrown off here from the general London theory/ideas/setups.

[@letsexplore2296]

Want to see a kings indian defence video from black's perspective .

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Azmaeen, we've actually made a video on the King's Indian Defense already! I'll leave the link below. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3W2oaR3dqeag6c

[@otzio8]

Very good video! This defense is all what I needed vs d4

[@philipblackberg9907]

Hi Thanks for the vid! its an interesting version. Could you please let me know of a player/players that play this version of the benoni with the fianchetto bishop and knight on e8? Would like to see some more professional games in it

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Philip! We actually just made a video on the regular version of the Benoni Defense. Here is the link, let me know what you think! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYO7hWSbn5enp8k

[@maguedchess5931]

I like this opening but I can't find good resources to learn it and play it

[@TheChessGiant]

I hope this video helped! And ya it's tough, hard to find much stuff on it out there.

[@bobwineland9936]

I would like to see your thoughts as white using b3-Bb2 which seems to eliminate a lot of boring d4 nonsense.

[@leonvalente6389]

Structurally Benoni appears weak, but psychologically I think it really gives the advantage as it forces white to play predictable attacks that the Benoni was cultivated to defend and even counter - the pawns are the strongest pieces in the Benoni 🤫

[@TheChessGiant]

Couldn't agree more Leon! Well said. The "pawns are the soul of chess" but this is particularly the case with the Old Benoni. Very hyperdynamic and unique setups but it works.

[@humungous09]

May anyone of you explain the structural weaknesses in this defense?

[@leonvalente6389]

@@humungous09 so the Benoni typically always features a very weak pawn on d6 as it is a backwards pawn that must always be defended. This is technically a bad structure but as I said, it makes the opponent’s attacking plans rather obvious because they’ll go after this weakness and allow you for unique and predictable counter play . It is weak though so you have to actively defend it

[@humungous09]

@@leonvalente6389 Thank you very much Leon! Appreciated..

[@jaydub2971]

Interesting approach to the Old Benoni. Do you have a Pirc guide versus 1.e4?

[@TheChessGiant]

Not yet! Although I've been getting a ton of requests for this so I will make one on this soon!

[@jaydub2971]

@@TheChessGiant Thanks! I know it's an odd suite of openings to focus on.

[@TheChessGiant]

Finally made it J Dub! Here is that video on the Pirc! Drops in about a day. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qomZiqBudqujorc

[@jonabdo4796]

Hey Solomon, Thanks for the great tutorials. Very thorough and helpful. I wanted to ask what your thoughts are on the Englund Gambit for d4?

[@TheChessGiant]

You got it! Glad to help! And ya the Englund Gambit is fun but not sound. Although, it's surprisingly hard for white to stop all the traps. They can if they do their research but it takes some work. I'll send you my two videos on it below. PLAYING the Englund Gambit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3vZgohna8Soha8 Playing AGAINST the Englund Gambit: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWbUZGN-j9eSr8k

[@djvex6180]

Nice :)

[@krishanu-d1k]

I just played that trap 😁😁

[@TheChessGiant]

Nice!

[@nishatyagi2959]

at 10:00 all the pawns, as we can see, are on the dark squares and our bishop is also dark squared , ,thus it has been kind of Blocked from attacking the king side, do you have any solution to this, however the position is better for black😄

[@TheChessGiant]

Well our bishop is blocked in but so are theirs. I think when you look at the position overall, black has the edge when you compare piece to piece.

[@lucyplays2007]

Hey Solomon, thanks for the video! In the Czech Benoni (1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5) I’m having some trouble with opponents taking the weak e6 pawn later on, destroying the pawn chain and winning the endgame. What are some ways I can deal with that?

[@TheChessGiant]

That's a good question! Could you email me a game which is an example of this? The two things I would generally say is make sure you have support from it - like from your light-squared bishop or the rook on a8 at some point. You could also push a pawn. But, if you send me a game I might be able to email you more personal piece of advice! My email is "[e-mail]"

[@zalibecquerel3463]

Great video. Personally I find when I have my rook stuck on f8 (e.g. with knight on e8), white's bishop will swoop in to h6, forcing a trade of my fiancettoed bishop. "The Engine" tends to say this is good for black... still really annoying.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks Zali! Ya totally man. Against that, I recommend not taking the bishop but making white waste more time and take on g7... I think it is good to realize that white is giving up their good bishop... The dark squared white bishop is white's strongest piece because it is generally the opposite color of it's pawn. After the trade, we do lose our Bishop on g7 but then white is stuck with a light squared bishop and light squared pawns. We can then push with f5 f4 h6 g5 etc. Hope this helps.

[@zalibecquerel3463]

@@TheChessGiant Marvellous! Never thought of it like that before. Thank you for your reply!

[@chrisbasiaco6809]

Hi, are you able to make a video on the english opening?

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Chris, we actually already did! I'll leave the link below, thanks for the support! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZWtopRvqLyqnZo

[@chrisbasiaco6809]

@@TheChessGiant good thanks

[@suspiciousnerdwithligma6855]

The benoni defence can transpose into smith morra gambit anytime. Can you make a video on the siberian trap. Actually I know what the trap is but I am suggesting so that others can play it against the smithmorra gambit

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey man! Ya that's a great suggestion! We actually did make a Siberian Trap video awhile back! A fun response against the smith morra for sure

[@suspiciousnerdwithligma6855]

@@TheChessGiant Oh. I didn't see that video🙄🙄

[@TheChessGiant]

@@suspiciousnerdwithligma6855 Haha all good! Do you have a username for chess.com? I'd love sometime you seem pretty good!

[@suspiciousnerdwithligma6855]

My name on chess.com is Divyam_1011. I am not that active on online chess. I have sent you a friend request. (This account is owned by me and my brother. Now he do not play so I am now VERY ACTIVE)

[@TheChessGiant]

@@suspiciousnerdwithligma6855 Sweet, just accepted it.

[@JohnSmith-tz7iy]

Solomon, do you think this would be good as an anti London weapon?

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey John! I do actually! Ya when we play 1. ...c5 they can't go with their immediate Bf4, they will have to play a move like c3 (if they want to keep playing London System) and we've already made an impact on white's setup by move one. We can continue with moves like e6, Nf6, b6, etc. Black does well with this approach against the London, hope this helps!

[@gronccoravioli]

What about 2. C3? In the 900-1000 this move is the most common and I don't know what the best move is.

[@TheChessGiant]

C3 is totally fine for white! I usually recommend d5 & Nc6 for black keeping the tension

[@johnp845]

when you play d4 as white, and black responds with c5 Old Benoni, what is your preferred response? 2. d5 (advance) ? or 2. c3 (decline) ? or other ? thank you!

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey John! I would say that either of these is completely fine! d5 is more aggressive and hyperdynamic and c3 is more solid. I am usually a more aggressive player but in this situation I personally prefer c3... like playing a Slav but a tempo ahead.

[@drewaw612]

This isn't even the old benoni. It's the Czech benoni

[@redareda6607]

is transposing from the old benoni to the modern by playing d6 on move 2 a good option?

[@marcustaylor664]

nice

[@Rodricz123]

What rating is this opening more or less for?

[@jwplays78]

Do you have the PGN?

[@wodan7338]

What if on move 2 , white just defends or ignores the pawn on d4? What if they play something like e3 or c3?

[@iammichael1094]

Ok, so I'm starting to warm up to you. I wasn't liking this "new guy" beating my fav, Boston Mike. 🙏❤️ I'll have to give this defense a go. Thanks for the video.

[@TheChessGiant]

Haha thanks man! Mike is still the legend though! Let me know if there's any other chess openings you want me to cover!

[@iammichael1094]

@@TheChessGiant Okay, here is one. My friend plays the French Defense all the time...What do you love against that?

[@TheChessGiant]

@@iammichael1094 Ya I've recently looked into 3. Be3 with the Alapin Gambit... not to be confused with the Alapin Variation against the Sicilian Defense. It's very dangerous against the French as it offers a pawn on e4 in which we will play f3... and it also stops black from play c5! I'm working on making a video on it, and it's not one of those cheap gambits as usually in master games, white is the one winning. I'm working on making a video and I'll let you know when I release it!

[@iammichael1094]

@@TheChessGiant That's so exciting.... thanks!

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey we just made the video and I made sure to shout you out!

[@hemakanthadesilva2087]

is this Czetch Bnenoni ?

[@alphachess9009]

Hey man I just found this channel and I love it! I recently started my own channel and would love to learn how you grew your! Plus this video is what i needed vs D4. I just subbed! Would love to see you around my channel as well let me know what you think! Keep up the good work!

[@TheChessGiant]

What's up man! Thanks for the compliments I appreciate it. I don't know if you have instagram but if you do hit me up! I'd be down to do some stuff together! Just subbed to your channel. Keep it up I can tell your channel is good.... and to be honest most chess channels aren't

[@alphachess9009]

@@TheChessGiant Yeah one of these days id be down to do a collab of sorts I have a twitter connected to this channel

[@RM-ud2cm]

at 04:24. can we respond to Nc3 with f5?

[@Jimnicolls]

Isn't 2. e5 the Czech Benoni?

[@vytarien]

When I do 1. d4 c5, I seem to get 2. c3 or 2. Nf6 and it confuses me. What are you supposed to do if they DON'T take?

[@TheChessGiant]

Ya so in that case you can simply capture on d4, play something like Nf6 and develop naturally. I like playing against 2. Nf3 because we trade a flank pawn for a center pawn. With 2. c3, not so much right because their flank pawn is prepared to become a central pawn. But, still very playable for black there an white hardly ever has a pawn on c3 after d4 so you're already getting them out of book.

[@johnp845]

Do you prefer the old Benoni, or the modern Benoni ? Thank you 🙏 !

[@TheChessGiant]

Oh gosh that’s hard! I personally LOVE the Old Benoni but the regular Benoni is a ton of fun too... I’d say that the regular Benoni is more popular at the Grandmaster level but takes more preparation

[@ramithair2846]

That last variation is dead lost by the way. Even if white plays the moves you suggested which are slow. You have no attack. White is just gonna play c4 b4 and dominate on the queenside. Meanwhile your knight is blocking your queen and you can't get a rook behind the queen to help the attack its just bad. A worse version of a king's indian.

[@vendeltout8562]

Isnt this the checz benoni?

[@juelzsantana1075]

Why do you sound so hard like Technoblade bro