Modern Benoni or Grünfeld?

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Zephyr2385

For a bit of context, I play the Najdorf as Black, and the Ruy Lopez as White. What would better fit my openings as of now? I've tried many other openings against d4 but they didn't seem to fit. Both of these are the only ones that I seem to understand the common ideas in.

Chuck639

It’s easy to go wrong with the Grunfeld if you don’t understand the strategies, how to use your resources and staying on tempo. With that said, I prefer open and tactical games, so I vote for the Grunfeld.

Both are dynamic defences. The Benoni does have transpositions if that is of value to you.

Ethan_Brollier

A Grunfeld, Ruy Lopez, and Najdorf repertoire would be absolutely terrible to learn, but the Grunfeld is certainly better than the Benoni.

TheSampson
Ethan_Brollier wrote:

A Grunfeld, Ruy Lopez, and Najdorf repertoire would be absolutely terrible to learn, but the Grunfeld is certainly better than the Benoni.

Why do you say so”

Ethan_Brollier
TheSampson wrote:
Ethan_Brollier wrote:

A Grunfeld, Ruy Lopez, and Najdorf repertoire would be absolutely terrible to learn, but the Grunfeld is certainly better than the Benoni.

Why do you say so”

Grunfeld, Ruy Lopez, and Najdorf are all essentially strongest and most popular option in their slot. Grunfeld is the most popular Indian, Najdorf is the most popular Sicilian, Ruy Lopez is the most popular Open Game. Due to this, the sheer volume of theory to learn even one of these fully would require an insane amount of work, but all three? Absolutely ridiculous.

As for why the Grunfeld is stronger than the Benoni? That’s just… kind of accepted as fact at this point

TheSampson
Ethan_Brollier wrote:
TheSampson wrote:
Ethan_Brollier wrote:

A Grunfeld, Ruy Lopez, and Najdorf repertoire would be absolutely terrible to learn, but the Grunfeld is certainly better than the Benoni.

Why do you say so”

Grunfeld, Ruy Lopez, and Najdorf are all essentially strongest and most popular option in their slot. Grunfeld is the most popular Indian, Najdorf is the most popular Sicilian, Ruy Lopez is the most popular Open Game. Due to this, the sheer volume of theory to learn even one of these fully would require an insane amount of work, but all three? Absolutely ridiculous.

As for why the Grunfeld is stronger than the Benoni? That’s just… kind of accepted as fact at this point

The Grunfeld is obviously stronger than the Benoni lol, but I think I'm doing well with the Ruy Lopez and Sicilian, partnered with the Nimzo and the QGD. I personally think the Grunfeld is positionally unsound tbh, the problem isn't really theory

If white defends his center properly, he's won the game, no question. Black will have no counterplay and he's gonna get smothered to death. Besides, black's position is a little bit... weird. He only has the nearly immobile e-pawn for a central pawn, and I don't really understand how I would go with that position very well. Maybe get the rooks to the d-file and make a central attack from there? I don't know.

I much prefer the Nimzo.

Black has a solid position and white doesn't yet have an overwhelming center. Black's king is safe, d5 is in the air, and the fianchettoed light-squared bishop is a powerful tool.

I just wanted to give my opinion on the Grunfeld but whatever lol

TheSampson
Ultimate-trashtalker wrote:

To be honest i wouldn't suggest u anything because when i was at ur level,i played more principled stuff like QGD,semi slav etc. Najdorf and ruy Lopez is okay but i would suggest u to stay away from the hyper modern stuff until u reach 1600...and before someone says i am gatekeeping,this is the recommendation of GM Daniel naroditsky.

Well sorry the theory's already engraved into my mind

SamuelAjedrez95
Ethan_Brollier wrote:

Grunfeld is the most popular Indian, Najdorf is the most popular Sicilian, Ruy Lopez is the most popular Open Game.

The Grunfeld isn't the most popular Indian. It's one of the most respected Indians at master level alongside the Nimzo. The King's Indian is still played more though.

The Ruy Lopez is the most popular Open Game at master level, but at lower level the Italian is more popular.

SamuelAjedrez95
Ultimate-trashtalker wrote:

To be honest i wouldn't suggest u anything because when i was at ur level,i played more principled stuff like QGD,semi slav etc. Najdorf and ruy Lopez is okay but i would suggest u to stay away from the hyper modern stuff until u reach 1600...and before someone says i am gatekeeping,this is the recommendation of GM Daniel naroditsky.

Daniel Naroditsky actually specifically recommends the Grunfeld in his speedrun. I've never seen him play or recommend the QGD or Semi-Slav. His main choices are the King's Indian and Grunfeld.

SamuelAjedrez95

I would recommend looking at the Benoni's cousins, the King's Indian and the Benko Gambit. Maybe this isn't what you wanted to hear initially, but the King's Indian can be used to transpose into more favourable versions of the Benoni.

In the normal Benoni move order, you can face variations like the Taimanov and Mikenas Attack. This is still probably viable at our level, but it might be tough to play in the long run.

fluffynnaj

grunfeld I haven't played it but I've heard its good although if you mess up the beonis move order it can be very strong too make mistakes

fluffynnaj
Zephyr2385 wrote:

For a bit of context, I play the Najdorf as Black, and the Ruy Lopez as White. What would better fit my openings as of now? I've tried many other openings against d4 but they didn't seem to fit. Both of these are the only ones that I seem to understand the common ideas in.

The kings Indian Trust me. I know you're going to say you've tried it but follow this principle: When you finish fianchetto and castle deploy a card kann set up and immediately attack the center pawns I recommend using the c pawn so it turns into a sicilianish set up which I personally like

fluffynnaj
Ultimate-trashtalker wrote:

To be honest i wouldn't suggest u anything because when i was at ur level,i played more principled stuff like QGD,semi slav etc. Najdorf and ruy Lopez is okay but i would suggest u to stay away from the hyper modern stuff until u reach 1600...and before someone says i am gatekeeping,this is the recommendation of GM Daniel naroditsky.

1600s aren't serious enough too memorise gm level openings or most openings as a matter of fact

SamuelAjedrez95

@fluffynnaj

Which is why it's still perfectly great to play because everyone will have equal 1600 level knowledge of the theory then. There are no "GM level openings". There are only openings which you enjoy playing at any level.

SamuelAjedrez95
Ultimate-trashtalker wrote:

Yeah he recommends those but he gives the rating mark of around 1600

Oh, I didn't know it was a 1600 level specific speedrun

blueemu

I play Najdorf as Black.

Tried both Modern Benoni and Grunfeld. I finally settled on King's Indian Defense.

TheSampson
Ultimate-trashtalker wrote:

No need to be sorry, it's ur life u can do whatever u want... it's just that i learnt chess more in the principled way so my advices are different

You're valid 👍

blueemu
Ultimate-trashtalker wrote:

Playing C5 means Benoni structures

Correct.

When people mention "Benoni" or "Modern Benoni", they are usually thinking of Blitz Benoni structures (Pawns at d5 and e4 vs Pawns at c5 and d6), but in fact there are nearly a dozen quite individual types of Benoni structures.

Blitz Benoni, Spanish Benoni, Rex Benoni, Full Benoni, Wing Benoni, Gambit Benoni (the Benko), Major and Minor Benonis...

The ones arising from the King's Indian Defense tend toward Rex Benoni structures.

SamuelAjedrez95

@blueemu

What's the difference between each of those types of Benoni structures?

blueemu
SamuelAjedrez95 wrote:

@blueemu

What's the difference between each of those types of Benoni structures?

Almost always, details of the Pawn structures.

The Benoni Minor, for example, differs from pretty well all the other Benonis in that White's c-Pawn remains on c2 instead of advancing to c4 early in the game. (In the Spanish Benoni it goes to c3).

This makes a difference in the placement of the minor pieces (a White Knight can immediately head to c4, because no White Pawn closes that square) and also changes the way that Pawn exchanges in the center might work (there is no White Pawn on c4 guarding the d5 Pawn).

Full Benoni is Pawns c4/d5/e4 vs c5/d6/e5. Rex Benoni is with Pawns c7/d6/e5 instead of e7/d6/c5. Mostly from the King's Indian. Spanish Benoni has White's c-Pawn at c3 and Black's Q-side Pawns advanced. Think of a normal Ruy Lopez, with White playing d4-d5.

Read "Pawn Power in Chess" by Kmoch for full details on Benonis (and other common formations).

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