Jobava’s Benoni Defense – Fight the Anti-Benoni Systems

The Anti-Benoni Problem and Jobava’s Solution

Most Benoni repertoires focus exclusively on the main line after 3.d5, leaving players unprepared when White sidesteps with flexible moves like 2.Nf3 or employs the solid Fianchetto Variation with g3 and Bg2. These systems are designed to drain the position of its tactical complexity, turning the game into a slow positional battle where White’s space advantage becomes the dominant factor.

Jobava and Ceres address this gap comprehensively. Their approach maintains the Benoni spirit—ambitious, creative, fearless—even in positions that appear solid or drawish. The course demonstrates that 1…Nf6 followed by …c5 creates practical problems for White in every setup, whether it’s the London System (2.Bf4), the Trompowsky (2.Bg5), or the standard 2.Nf3 move order. The key insight: Black’s counterplay mechanism changes with White’s setup, but the fighting mentality remains constant.

The Fianchetto Variation receives particularly deep treatment. After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 d6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Nf3 e6 8.O-O exd5 9.cxd5 Re8, Jobava provides concrete solutions against 10.Nd2 (the main line), 10.Bf4 (White’s second most popular choice), and various sidelines with 10.Re1. This structure, where Black voluntarily opens the center with …exd5, leads to rich middlegame positions that reward understanding over pure memorization.

Complete Coverage: What’s Inside

The course systematically addresses every Anti-Benoni system White can employ after 1.d4 Nf6:

The Fianchetto Complex (Chapters 1-3)

• Chapter 1: Main line with 10.Nd2 after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 d6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.Nf3 e6 8.O-O exd5 9.cxd5 Re8
• Chapter 2: White’s 10.Bf4 setup
• Chapter 3: 10.Re1 and other sidelines

Flexible 2.Nf3 Systems (Chapters 4-10) After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 b5:

• Chapter 4: 3.c4
• Chapter 5: 3.c3 and sidelines
• Chapter 6: 3.e3 (solid approach)
• Chapter 7: 4.a4 b4 (early wing expansion)
• Chapter 8: 4.Bg5 g6 (Jobava’s main recommendation)
• Chapter 9: 4.e4 (important gambit line)
• Chapter 10: 4.c4

Early Bishop Developments (Chapters 11-13)

• Chapter 11: 2.Bf4 c5 (London System)
• Chapters 12-13: 2.Bg5 c5 (Trompowsky Attack)