Chess lessons › Chess openings
The Benko Gambit
Black gives a pawn for the a- and b-files: how to play it, and how White gives it back or declines.
The idea
Black gives a pawn for half-open files against White’s queenside.
- The pawn on a7 steps to a6 and attacks the pawn on b5.
- If White takes on a6, the a- and b-files become half open for Black.
- The rooks, starting with the one on a8, then aim at a2 and b2.
In a game: White has played d5 and Black pushes the b-pawn: if White takes, answer with ...a6.
How the lesson begins
In the Benko Gambit Black offers a pawn with ...b5 once White has pushed the pawn to d5. If White takes it, Black does not hurry to win it back. Black plays for the a- and b-files, where rooks will press on White’s queenside pawns, and keeps the pawn on c5 as a base.
In Lichess games where the players’ average rating was 1600 to 1999, 435 reached this position. White scored 37%: Black won 61% and White 36%.
- 1. d4 White starts with the queen’s pawn.
- 1... Nf6 Black develops a knight.
- 2. c4 The c-pawn takes space in the centre.
- 2... c5 Black attacks the pawn on d4 from the side.
- 3. d5 White pushes past the pawn on c5.
- 3... b5 The Benko Gambit: the pawn attacks the pawn on c4 and offers itself.
Find the move
Black to move. White has taken the pawn, and it stands on b5. Attack it with the a-pawn.
A hint
The pawn on a7 steps forward one square.
Show the answer
4... a6
a6 attacks the pawn on b5. If White takes on a6, the a-file and the b-file both become half open for Black. The engine puts a6 first.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | Too few games |
| 800 to 1199 | Too few games |
| 1200 to 1599 | Too few games |
| 1600 to 1999 | 0.4 |
| 2000 and up | 1.2 |
How the games ended
White won 40%, 5% were drawn and Black won 55%, over 547 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.