Benko Gambit Accepted: King Walk Variation
ECO A59 ยท Benko Gambit Accepted
The Benko Gambit Accepted: King Walk Variation (A59) is a chess opening in the Benko Gambit Accepted family, played by White. It arises after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. Nf3 d6 8. e4 Bxf1 9. Kxf1 Bg7 10. g3 O-O 11. Kg2.
Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. Nf3 d6 8. e4 Bxf1 9. Kxf1 Bg7 10. g3 O-O 11. Kg2
About this opening
The King Walk Variation takes the logic of the Yugoslav Benko to its conclusion: after ...Bxf1 and Kxf1, the white king undertakes a Kf1-g2(-g1) walk to find shelter and free the rooks, castling being permanently lost. It is a slow but tested maneuver that lets White consolidate the extra pawn against Black's pressure. A purely strategic and patient line.