Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense
- 1.d4c5
- 2.dxc5Na6
1,007 games
A rare Old Benoni sideline in which Black meets 2. dxc5 with 2...Na6, aiming to recover the c5-pawn with the knight instead of with ...e6.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Schlenker Defense
The Schlenker Defense answers the capture 2. dxc5 in the Old Benoni with 2...Na6, bringing the knight toward c5 to win back the pawn rather than preparing ...Bxc5 with ...e6. For the moment White is a pawn up, though the extra pawn leaves doubled c-pawns. The most frequent replies are 3. Nf3 and 3. Be3, which guards c5, followed by 3. Nc3. Engines give White a slight edge and favor 3. e4, yet Black has scored better than White in online games.