How safe and reliable is the Czech Benoni?

After I quit playing the Dutch stonewall, I tried the Nimzo-Indian/QID and the QGD, with little success.

I'm looking for a sound, solid defense against 1.d4, but not as drawish as the QGD lines I tried. Something I care a lot about is a sound pawn structure.

Might the Czech Benoni be just what I'm looking for? I don't really care about not having much space, I've always played the French defense against 1.e4.

Also, what to play after 2.Nf3? 

the Czech Benoni maybe for you. it has a lot in common with a closed English, or a KID in the sense that the pawn center is locked. most of the time, play revolves around pawn breaks on f5 and b5 and who controls the f file. there two ways to enter the Czech Benoni in the opening but both involve transposition to other openings. Another suggestion, if you don't mind semi open games, is the QGA. it's very solid, very positional, but potentially very quiet and boring.

Thanks for your answer. The QGA is interesting but 3.e4 leads to positions that are too sharp (or uncomfortable) for me.

Does anyone know if there is a book about the Czech Benoni whose introduction at least is available for free online?

there are plenty of videos on YouTube that will give you the basics and some introduction to middle game theory. I would suggest Hanging Pawns or Palm Beach Chess. How do you feel about transpositions? there are some other games that you will need to know as black. you will not always get a Czech Benoni.

Hi!

I used to play The Czech Benoni in the past. Not anymore. I felt sometimes White always got throgh first in the Queenside before I could make a serious attack on the kingside. It´s not like in the French where you are more likely to find counterplay.

I would recommend you the Modern Benoni or the King´s Indian Defense as better choices. Or the "universal" (playable against either 1.e4 or 1.d4) Modern Defense, of which I wrote a post, if interested check it out:

https://www.chess.com/blog/maafernan/opening-repertoire-the-modern-defense

Good luck!