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Benoni Defense

Old Benoni, Schmid Variation

A43positionaloffbeat

  1. 1.d4c5
  2. 2.d5d6
  3. 3.Nc3g6
1,430 games50%45%

The Schmid Variation of the Old Benoni has Black fianchetto the king's bishop early and delay ...Nf6, keeping flexible options against White's center.

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About the Schmid Variation

The Schmid Variation of the Old Benoni arises after 1. d4 c5 2. d5 d6 3. Nc3 g6, with Black fianchettoing the king's bishop and holding back ...Nf6. This keeps the long diagonal open and the e7-square free for the knight, and it makes ...Bxc3, doubling White's pawns, a possibility. Black can also wait for Nf3 before playing ...e6 and ...exd5, reaching a Modern Benoni without allowing the Four Pawns Attack. White most often replies 4. e4, and the engine gives White a slight edge.

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