®

British Chess Federation

Book Review

The Gambit Guide to the Modern Benoni

by John Watson
Gambit, 208 pages, £15.99

John Watson's previous work, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, was the 1999 BCF Book of the Year, whilst he has also written acclaimed works on both the English and the French openings. Watson is also recognised for his excellent book reviews on TWIC and is known to often spend weeks studying a book prior to reviewing it. Thus this latest work from Watson had a lot to live up to and yet does not disappoint.

Compared to Andrew Kinsman's recent Modern Benoni (Everyman) which aimed to provide complete coverage of the opening and which was largely aimed at the average club player, Watson's work is a repertoire work and is probably suitable for players of 1800+ (150+ BCF) strength. Watson is also unsurprisingly much more detailed on the lines which both he and Kinsman give, whilst readers will also be pleased to see that he provides two weapons against each of White's main systems. Thus if the reader does not like his main choice or is too lazy to study all the theory on it, there is a second, usually less explored and slightly more risky alternative.

Watson does touch upon some key ideas in his introduction, but does generally concentrate upon the theory, although he takes time out at certain important junctures to explain, very clearly, a key idea or to discuss which of several possible move orders is best. Watson also gives his readers extra confidence as he is both a Benoni player himself and has written previously on the opening, whilst there is no doubt that he has spent a long time writing this work. At one point Watson comments (on the Modern Main Line - 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 Nc3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 Nf3 g6 7 e4 Bg7 8 h3 0-0 9 Bd3) that he "worked for many days on the move 9...Bd7, which theory gives as equal or unclear. Unfortunately, that same theory is easy to improve upon, and [he] came out convinced that 9...Bd7 gives White a considerable advantage with correct play. Thus the system before you [9...Nh5!?], which [he thinks] is underrated."

The above quote not only shows Watson's diligence, but also that he always gives his own opinion on a position or line, constantly has readers' best interests at heart and is permanently challenging the analysis of others. All these features are evident on just about every page of this work, whilst it is also good to see an author always giving due credit to others for analysis. Watson has used just about every available source on the Modern Benoni whilst writing this work and he does often give the analysis and opinions of others, but then does usually improve on or contradict a move or assessment, although he is not unafraid to say when he completely agrees with another author.

The Modern Benoni, as Watson is fully aware, is under somewhat of a cloud at the moment with even those who only used to play it after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 being put off by White's healthy score with the Modern Main Line. Watson does, however, reassure his readers that White's advantage in the critical lines is at most no more so than in other openings, whilst he keeps reminding them that entering into the Benoni does involve taking risks for both sides.

Against the Modern Main Line Watson likes Black's attempt to avoid it with an early ...a6, as played by Emms and Ward amongst others, and he rightly gives this line his full support. His other suggestion (9...Nh5) is certainly less explored and more risky, and yet here, as throughout this work, Watson does back up the move with a large amount of independent analysis, of which the quality is generally rather high. That is not to say that if you spend a day with Fritz on one side variation you will not find an improvement, but that his variations are always logical and generally appear sound, which should mean that both sides may be able to improve on them without drastically changing an assessment. Throughout Watson also always provides clear assessments and often takes time out to explain them, such as by explaining that Black is better due to his superior structure.

Having studied Watson's coverage of the fashionable Modern Main Line it is quite apparent that this line should not put Benoni players off their favourite weapon, but what about the dreaded Taimanov Attack (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 Nc3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 Bg7 8 Bb5+)? Firstly dealing with option B, which here, in view of its rarity and the large amount of coverage rightly given to line A, receives just three pages of coverage. 7...Qe7!? will certainly surprise the opponent and is probably a good practical try, but it would not be surprising if White does manage to gain a large advantage by some form of sacrificial means. Watson's main choice is, however, 7...Bg7 8 Bb5+ Nfd7 9 a4 (the most popular and best) 9...Qh4+. This is a good line to recommend for it is not too well covered elsewhere and leads to quite a sound position. Watson's analysis is again very detailed and should give readers confidence that in this line they are not about to be simply blown away by a strong White attack. Perhaps White can claim a slight edge after 9...Qh4+, but nevertheless the well prepared Black player should be content with the thematic resulting positions in which his or her superior understanding and preparation will undoubtedly help.

Watson's repertoire work on the French inspired many to take up the opening and the same may well now happen with the Benoni. Throughout this work he remains objective and provides plenty of encouragement to readers who wrongly doubt the Benoni's soundness, whilst he always writes clearly and provides much detailed, and of a high quality, original analysis. For the strong club player this is one of the best repertoire books of recent years and must be a contender for the 2001 BCF Book of the Year Award.

Richard Palliser