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Blumenfeld & Benoni Gambits
Black plays ...b5 or ...f5 against a White pawn on d5. The aim is to undermine White's centre and open lines for Black's pieces in return for a pawn.
The idea
Against a white pawn on d5, Black strikes with …b5 or …f5 to undermine it. In the Blumenfeld (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5) Black offers the b-pawn to build a big centre with …d5 and …e5 after 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5. The Benoni ideas are similar: active pieces and a pawn mass in the centre in return for a pawn.
What happens next
If White takes everything, Black gets a broad centre (pawns on c5, d5, e6) and the bishops on d6 and b7, with the half-open f-file for a kingside attack. If White declines with 5.Bg5, Black has to play more carefully: …exd5 and …h6 are the usual continuations.
How to play against it
White's best is usually to decline: 5.Bg5 is the main line against the Blumenfeld, keeping the centre closed and the bishop active. Taking the pawns is fine only if White is prepared to give one back to break up Black's centre with e4.
A key line
Benoni Gambit (Blumenfeld)
More lines
Blumenfeld Gambit Accepted
Blumenfeld Gambit Declined, 5.Bg5
Blumenfeld Gambit Declined, 5.e4
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All 5 lines in this gambit
- Benoni Gambit (Blumenfeld)
- Blumenfeld Gambit Accepted
- Blumenfeld Gambit Declined, 5.Bg5
- Blumenfeld Gambit Declined, 5.e4
- Old Benoni Gambit