Spielmann-Indian

Named after the Austrian grandmaster Rudolf Spielmann, this line has Black answer the Knights Variation with an immediate 2...c5, hitting d4 with the c-pawn in the manner of the Benoni. Because White has already played Nf3 rather than c4, the choices differ from the standard Benoni. Results are almost even in the Lichess database, and engines give White a slight edge.

The most frequent reply is 3. c4, which transposes to the Anti-Benoni branch of the English Opening, Symmetrical Variation. 3. d5 takes space and keeps the Benoni character. Black can then continue with 3...e6, or exploit the missing pawn on c4 with 3...b5, a Benko-type gambit sometimes called the Pseudo-Benko. Players committed to London or Colle structures often avoid this with 3. e3 or 3. c3. A Catalan setup with 3. g3 is considered inaccurate: after 3...cxd4 4. Bg2 e5 Black keeps the extra pawn by tactical means, since 5. Nxe5 is met by 5...Qa5+, forking king and knight.