The Gambit Guide to the Modern Benoni

This is the first thorough guide to the way the Modern Benoni is being handled at the start of the 21st century This objective guide to one of Black's most swashbuckling openings explains how, from the outset, Black creates extreme imbalance, setting his piece activity and queenside play against White's spatial preponderance and central majority. However, during the 1980s and 1990s, the Benoni fell under a cloud as a result of some very direct attacking systems by White. Renowned author and Benoni expert John Watson particularly focuses on various subtle move-orders by which Black can try to avoid White's most dangerous systems and direct the game into more palatable channels. King's Indian players will also find this book invaluable, since Watson covers many lines that can arise from King's Indian move-orders.