The Modern Benoni is one of the most controversial but also dynamic answers to 1.d4.

This opening remained the favorite of famous attacking players as Tal, Kasparov, Gashimov and Topalov.

From the outset, Black creates a new pawn structure and deploying his active piece play against White’s central majority.

Grandmaster Repertoire 10

The Tarrasch Defence arises after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 and leads to dynamic play. Based on the variation 9.Bg5 c4, Ntirlis and Aagaard radically change the theoretical landscape for this classic opening, with analysis checked many times over and an ocean of new ideas.

The Benoni Defence can be divided into two main structures, which are very different in concept: the Modern Benoni, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 and the Czech (or Old) Benoni 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5 which is much less dynamic. This book deals with both systems. Black can reach the main line of the Modern Benoni in either of two ways: 2...c5 3.d5 e6, or 2...e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 еxd5. Dreev shows the best move orders which allow White to reach the same main tabia with e4,Bd3,h3. Dreev: "In this book I have analysed all Black’s possible responses that deserve attention and in a great many variations I have suggested promising possibilities for White which are new to theory."

A sharp and aggressive opening for Black

The Benoni is a chess opening that offers Black excellent chances to play for a win. One of the main reasons for this is that it creates unbalanced positions from the very beginning, which favors the player with a better understanding of the nuances of the position. The Benoni involves Black placing their pawns on d6 and c5, and then fianchettoing their dark-squared bishop on g7. This setup creates a solid pawn structure and puts pressure on White’s center, making it difficult for them to launch a direct attack, while simultaneously threatening the c3 knight and the b2 pawn.