"Best by test." -TexAg06

ETA: Right, this thing. Going for a Benoni if possible because I hate myself. Otherwise, I'm most familiar with KID-type positions. My only 'fear' is the Tromp with 2. Bg5, and that's because I don't face it enough to know what I really like against it. It shouldn't make the game difficult, at least.

I invariably play 2. c4 here unless I know the opponent and am trying to avoid a specific variation. I don't know what ganstaman plays at all so I'll just play my normal opening. Curious to see what his next move will be.

Continue on as planned. If we get into the main lines or thereabouts, instead of 3. e3 or 3. Nf3, then the game will be imbalanced with potential fireworks everywhere, which is what I really play for.

It looks like we're heading for either Benko or Benoni territory. I'm REALLY hoping for the Benoni, because the Benko is probably my most disliked opening to play against in all of chess. Well, maybe a tie between the Benko and the Old Indian stuff (Nf6, d6, Nbd7, O-O, Be7, e5, etc). In another thread, ganstaman said he likes to play fun moves, but I'm going to have to disagree if he's both a French AND Benko player haha

3...e6 is mainline. Some have played 3...d6 first and delayed ...e6, but I see no need to do so.

Crossing my fingers worked, no Benko. Turns out ganstaman is indeed fun after all haha. Looks like we're probably heading into a main line Benoni, which should be a lot of fun. I don't know the theory really well (don't see too many Benonis in OTB play), but I'm planning to play the Taimanov variation (7.f4 and 8.Bb5+) if the game develops that way. Should lead to a really sharp game and give me the opportunity to learn something, very much looking forward to it.

Some like to play weird with 4. dxe6 but after 4...fxe6 black should be fine without much trouble. The last sideline I hope to avoid is 4. Nc3 exd5 5. Nxd5. It's also fine for black, but not the position I want.

Continuing on with the main line Benoni. I'm expecting the typical moves for black of d6, g6, Bg7, and O-O in some order. From this point, I don't think there are too many places for black to deviate from the Taimanov if white decides to go that route. So it looks like I might get my wish.

Crisis averted!

Continuing on with the main line. 6.e4 is a very natural move. Opens up the f1 bishop, gains space in the center, and supports the d5 pawn. If black continues with 6...g6, which is expected, I'm playing 7.f4 and letting the fun begin.

Still standard moves, and getting the bishop to the long diagonal is important for black. White's next move will be the interesting one. 7. Nf3 to get us to the modern mainline (I've seen this called MML), or 7. f4 to get us the crazier Taimanov variation?

Also, I forgot to mention the Benko Gambit with 3...b5 before, which is certainly a popular choice. I've tried it a few times but just had no idea what I was doing and lost too easily. The real Benoni I feel I understand better.

As explained earlier, I'm continuing with 7.f4. I've been trying to work on playing more aggressively/dynamically lately, and an early f4 push feels like just what the doctor ordered. I used to play the super solid Bd3, h3, Bf4 stuff, which takes little risk but seeks to highlight the drawbacks of black's setup. The f4 stuff is certainly more aggressive and should make for a fun Malkovich game.

I'm expecting 7...Bg7 and I'll follow up with 8.Bb5+

Well, into the fire I guess. I don't know that I really have options at this point anyway.

With 8.Bb5+ we're officially in the Taimanov variation of the Benoni. White's intentions aren't so subtle with the f4 push. For those that aren't familiar with this variation, black's only move here is 8...Nfd7, as unnatural as it may seem. On either 8...Nbd7 or 8...Bd7, white continues with 9.e5 and black is in a lot of trouble. I'm sure ganstaman knows his stuff as many of you do, I'm just typing this for those that aren't d4 players.

Well since I'm not going to move my king, I have 3 options.

1) 8...Bd7. I know nothing about this move. It seems the bishop may get in the way though?

2) 8...Nbd7. This is a little crazy and requires me to give up 2 knights for a rook to get what I believe is an endgame that is either drawn or a win for white most likely. That's if either of us can figure out the lines. It's been a long time since I've seen it, but I don't know if Tex has ever played through this. Doing this in my head, I've got:

8...Nbd7 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nh5 11. e6 Qh4+ 12. g3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Qxh1 14. Bxd7+ Bxd7 15. exd7+ Kxd7 and my head hurts. The g1 knight is hanging and pinned, so is 16. Be3 the move? Was I supposed to have played ...Bxc3+ bxc3 earlier at some point? What about ...fxe6 dxe6 at some point? It's so hard to evaluate this from here, but I think the general consensus is to avoid this line.

3) 8...Nfd7. This prevents the immediate e4-e5 due to opening up for the g7-bishop. I don't know the theory from this point, but it has the same feel as most Benoni positions, so I'd feel comfortable playing it. I need to expand on the queenside, attack down the e-file, and if appropriate play for an f5 break. This lets me just play chess from here, so it's my pick.

I feel like Nbd7 was almost rehabilitated a couple of years ago, but would have to check...analyzed deep into the endgame if I'm remembering the right line.

Although I think White has more practical ways to play against the Benoni, this should be fun to watch.

yea Sholar, I once looked at the 8.-Nbd7 lines but they didn't seem all that exciting for Black after the forcedish 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5 Nbd7 9. e5 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nh5 11. e6 Qh4 12. g3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Qxh1 14. Be3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 a6 16. exd7 Bxd7 17. Bxd7 Kxd7 and now something like 18.Qa4+ or 18.Qg4+ f5 19.Qf3 Qxf3 20.Nxf3. Setbacks like this and other PITA lines such as 6.Nf3+7.Bf4 and 6.e4+7.h3(accurate move order)+8.Nf3+9.Bd3 resulted in dropping the benoni from my repertoire

Yeah, that's it. I'm partial to Nf3+Bf4 line, myself.

fwiw I played about 20 games of 8. e5 instead of 8. Bb5+ and have a crazy win percentage there (a lot of weaker players obviously). I know Bb5+ is the main move and top dogs play it, but is immediate e5 really that bad?