The Benoni is a dynamic, counter-attacking opening that often leads to highly tactical positions. The great world champion Mikhail Tal enjoyed confusing his opponents with the Benoni’s intricacies. Bobby Fischer employed it to win a critical game against Boris Spassky in the 1972 world championship in Reykjavik. Recently, the current world champion Vladimir Kramnik unexpectedly essayed the Benoni in his title fight against Peter Leko. Typically, it was in a situation where he needed to go all out for the win. With such role models, the Benoni has always been popular with club players. This book is the latest in a new and innovative series of chess opening books. Using fresh,clear presentation, they explain the openings’ key ideas in an entertaining and accessible way. The aim of the series is to provide the essential knowledge to play the opening, while at the same time revealing the current thinking of the world’s elite players. ‘First Moves’ leads you through the basic opening moves. ‘Heroes and Zeroes’ gives the best and worst performances with the opening and features some of the leading exponents of the Benoni. ‘Tricks and Traps’ reveals how you might catch out your opponent. ‘What’s Hot’ pinpoints the very latest ideas from the world’s top players.
About the Author
Richard Palliser is a regular book reviewer for the British Chess Federation’s magazine Chess Moves, and a regular contributor to Chess Monthly, the most popular UK chess magazine. In 2001 he completed his International Master title by finishing as the highest-placed westerner at the World Junior Championship in Athens. He is the author of Play 1 d4! and the co-author of Chess on the Web, also published by Batsford.