Modern Benoni, Fianchetto Variation

White uses a fianchetto : the g-pawn advances to g3 and the king's bishop develops to g2. The bishop points along a long diagonal, and White can castle, the special king-and-rook move, behind a stable structure. The aim is to combine king safety with lasting pressure rather than force an immediate attack.

At first, White's own knight on f3 and central pawns block the bishop's diagonal. Its influence grows when the knight moves and the center advances or opens. White normally supports the center with a pawn on e4, then chooses between a central advance and quieter piece improvement.

Modern Benoni, Fianchetto Variation: canonical line

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

a1

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

Start

d4

Nf6

c4

c5

d5

e6

Nc3

exd5

cxd5

d6

Nf3

g6

g3

Bg7

Bg2

O-O

O-O

The line begins from the starting position

The board replays every move in the notation maintained by the article, without adding continuations.

Black keeps the usual Benoni plans: pressure against the center and a b-pawn advance to create queenside activity. Compared with the Classical Variation, White's bishop has greater long-term scope, but g3 and Bg2 take time that Black can use to organize active play.