Symmetrical Variation, Anti-Benoni Variation

The Anti-Benoni arises most often from the queen's pawn move order 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3, although ECO files it under the English as A31. With 3. Nf3 White refuses to gain space with 3. d5, which would allow a Benoni or Benko, and instead invites Black to exchange on d4. Black does so in the large majority of games, and 3...cxd4 4. Nxd4 produces an open position with a white pawn on c4, close to a Maróczy-style Sicilian or, after a timely ...d5, a Queen's Gambit Declined. Less common replies are 3...g6 and 3...e6.

After 3...cxd4 4. Nxd4, the quiet 4...e6 is the Spielmann Defense. The sharper 4...e5 drives the knight to the queenside, and 5. Nb5 d5 is the Kasparov-Vaganian Gambit, in which Black gives up the d-pawn for quick development and central activity. In the Geller Variation, reached by 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 c5 4. d4 Nc6 5. g3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6, Black's queen attacks the centralized knight. The engine rates the position as roughly balanced, and practical results are nearly even.