Forfatteren skriver selv i forordet

I have been playing the Modern Benoni for about a decade. Before then I played the King’s Indian, so it was a natural transition as I was already used to having my bishop on g7. For my own reasons I have usually preferred the move order 1.d4 g6, intending to transpose to a Benoni after a subsequent c2-c4. Of course I understand most readers will prefer a more conventional move order, so I have taken the position after the standard moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 as my starting point for the book.

A friend of mine once told me “Every time when I see your pawn on d6 it makes me sick!” However, he also admitted he wished he could get such interesting positions from the black side of the Queen’s Gambit Declined, which is his favoured defence. The thing I like about the Modern Benoni is that it almost always gives rise to a tense position where both players must make concrete decisions. I have also observed that there are many players who do not enjoy facing the Benoni, as White finds it hard to control the game the way he often does in most 1.d4 openings.

In this book I have departed slightly from the strict ‘repertoire approach’ of giving one recommendation against each of the opponent’s options. Against most major options I have provided coverage of two or more lines; the Benoni is a versatile beast and I hope the reader will find it useful to have multiple weapons in his arsenal. In some cases I have even spent time covering a less promising alternative, in order to provide some theoretical background and highlight the reasons that led me not to recommend something different. No doubt some readers would argue in favour of a more detailed ‘one recommendation’ approach, but I am happy with the final balance of detail versus choices. I also made the decision to focus my attention on the most popular and critical attempts for White to handle each major variation. In almost every early position there are probably ten or more uncommon moves that have been played at some point, but does anyone really need a recommendation against every possible move that they’re unlikely ever to face?

I hope you will enjoy reading this book and putting its recommendations into practice. Remember one thing: the Modern Benoni is not an opening that can be played by book alone. Preparation has its place of course, but more important are the resolve, wit and ingenuity of the brave warrior who puts his pawns on c5 and d6. Thus I invite you to summon your inner Tal, turn the page and get started.
Marian Petrov