Benko Gambit: all variations and ECO codes

8 named lines across 3 ECO codes (A57–A59). Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.

The idea

Black gives up a queenside pawn on move three to blow open the a- and b-files before White has time to consolidate, trading material for pressure that regularly outlasts the opening and follows White deep into the middlegame and even the endgame. Few gambits convert so directly into a structural, rather than purely tactical, form of compensation.

The main line

How the main line scores at your rating

Real Lichess win rates for 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5, playing as black: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.

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All 8 named variations

Every named line in the Benko Gambit family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.

• A57Benko Gambit (main line)1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5
• A59Benko Gambit (main line)1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 d6 9.g3
• A57Mutkin Countergambit1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g4
• A57Nescafe Frappe Attack1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 axb5 6.e4 b4 7.Nb5 d6 8.Bc4
• A57Zaitsev System1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3

• Zaitsev Variation

  • A57Nescafe Frappe Attack1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.Nc3 axb5 6.e4 b4 7.Nb5
• A58Fianchetto Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nf3 g6 8.g3
• A58Nd2 Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 Bxa6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nf3 g6 8.Nd2

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ECO Volume A: Flank Openings → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →