Benko Gambit Accepted: Modern Variation
The Modern Variation of the Benko is 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3, where White ignores the second pawn and prepares to recapture on b5 with the bishop. White wants fast development and a safe king; Black wants ...Qa5+, ...Bb7 and pressure on d5 and b5.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3
- ECO
- A57
- Engine
- +0.64 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 271 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 54.6%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After 5...axb5 6.Bxb5 White keeps an extra pawn with the bishop active and the king ready to castle.
- Meet 6...Qa5+ with 7.Nc3 and Bd2, then a4 to anchor the bishop on b5, as the engine line does.
- Develop with Nf3 or Nge2, keeping the d5 pawn protected against ...Bb7 and ...Nxd5.
Black
- Take 5...axb5 and check with ...Qa5+, forcing White to block before castling.
- Put the bishop on b7 to hit d5, and add ...e6 to break against the pawn.
- Bring the queen to b6 to hit b2 and the b5 bishop, as in the engine lines.
Plans and pawn structure
Because the e3 pawn guards d4 and opens the f1 bishop, White can castle quickly and stay a pawn up. Black's activity comes from the b-file, the queen on b6 or a5, and the bishop on b7 eyeing d5. White wants to hold b5 with a4 and defend d5 with Nc3 and Nf3. If d5 falls, Black gets the pawn back with the more active pieces.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.64: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.64 5...axb5 6.Bxb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Bb7 8.Bd2
- +0.71 5...Bb7 6.Nc3 axb5 7.Bxb5 Qa5 8.Bd2
- +0.73 5...Qa5+ 6.Bd2 Qb6 7.Nc3 axb5 8.Bxb5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
271 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.6%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
Take on b5 and develop with tempo using ...Qa5+ and ...Bb7. Pressure d5 before White finishes development. Avoid slow kingside moves that let White castle, play a4 and keep the extra pawn without problems. If White's bishop stays on b5, the queen on b6 keeps hitting it.
Questions
What are the moves of the Benko Gambit Accepted: Modern Variation?
The Benko Gambit Accepted: Modern Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3. Its ECO code is A57.
Is the Benko Gambit Accepted: Modern Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.64 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 271 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.6%. A practical way to meet the Benko for White players who want development over material, while Black needs active queen play.
What is the main idea of the Benko Gambit Accepted: Modern Variation?
White declines the second pawn and plans Bxb5 after ...axb5, keeping one extra pawn with smooth development. Black uses ...Qa5+, ...Bb7 and ...Qb6 to hit d5 and b5 before White consolidates.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is axb5, with Bb7 and Qa5+ close behind. 5...axb5 recovers a pawn and makes White spend a move recapturing with the bishop.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.