Benko Gambit: Fianchetto Variation
The a6-b5 pawn sacrifice. Pressure on a and b files.
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1. d4 › Fianchetto Variation
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Sequence
1.d4Nf62.c4c53.d5b54.cxb5a65.bxa6Bxa66.Nc3d67.Nf3g68.g3
About this opening
The Fianchetto Variation is the reference positional approach against the Benko Gambit: having accepted the pawn, White plays g3 and Bg2 to neutralize Black's a6 bishop on the long diagonal and solidly defend the queenside. Rather than returning the pawn, White aims to smother the typical Benko pressure along the a- and b-files. It is one of the most reliable weapons against this gambit.