Why the Benko Gambit?

The following is an example of a Benko Gambit. I wonder why black loses a pawn because I don't see much compensation.

Black has:

Lead in development

Huge Queenside pressure

Rock solid pawn structure

Stunted white piece-placement

What I'm guessing (I'm not sure, I don't think this opening is very good):

1. It's a novelty that an opponent probably won't be prepared for

2. White's c-pawn isn't controlling the center

3. Slight lead in development for black

4. White has to fianchetto his king's bishop to avoid losing castling

5. Open file for black's rook

This said, if god played god in the Benko, I think white would win. White has not only an extra pawn, but already to passed pawns, and one (on the a-file) that has no pawns on the adjacent file.

I would choose black any day

Thanks! I might spring that on my next opponent.

I think this is an excellent looking gambit and look forward to looking at it in more detail.

The reason you might not see the compensation is because most of it is positional, not material or tactical. Black can gain near-complete control over the queenside if he castles quickly and grabs both the a and b files with Rooks. Also, he has no real weaknesses, whereas White has an overextended d-pawn and the inability to move the e-pawn hastily without forfeiting castling.

1. I'm aware that it is very well-known, but at many (most) levels, players will not have studied how to defend against it.

2. Sorry, a typo by me. I've corrected it to say "isn't controlling the center".

3. I guess you're considering the rook developes. I agree with you on this point, I guess.

4. Still, white will have to wait to move his e-pawn, which can potentially control the center.

All in all, I would prefer white in this situation. While it seems many posters have said they would take black anyday, grandmasters don't seem to think so (as evidenced by the fact that it is rarely a master's regular opening)

my main problem with the Benko is that it traps in your knight for a few turns, and remedying that ofter ruins black's pawn structure

At higher levels the Benko Gambit is used to acheive a endgame advantage because of its solid pawn structure.  Black also plans to control the a and b files with their rooks.  The Benko Gambit has not been played by world class players but it is considered to be an easy system to play because of its simplicity.

is Pal still with us?

The moves white made are illogical. Pushing d5 is highly unlikely.

Absolutely false. The white moves are the main line and d5 also occurs in the very similar benk gambit (and some kings indian lines). Allowing ...cxd5 is a minor victory for black since he has exchanged a flank pawn for the central d-pawn (though this may often lead to marcozy bind like positions). By pushing d5, not only does white deny this exchange, he also gains a major spatial plus in the center.

Plus 1. d4 Nf3 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5? Qh4+! and he wins back the pawn.

You are probably used to descriptive notation. You meant 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.dxc5? Qa5+ :-)

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 is the standard Benoni Defense line. I think B usually plays 3 d6 and plans to fianchetto the KB. The position ends up similar to the KID but B has the W center more restrained by having built a countercenter. The Benko Gambit is an attempt to seize the initiative and gain a quick advantage on the Q-side at the cost of a P. Playing against it as W is not fun, as you are immediately placed into the role of defender and counterattacker (unless you like that kind of thing) with a slight material advantage and a positional disadvantage from the lagging development.

I'm not sure why one would complain that it's difficult for B to develop the QN. B will usually play an early d6 and then Nd7. From there the N is poised to help with the center or join the Q-side attack. B enjoys a relatively easy development that he leads. KID players who don't like the cramping that often occurs may love this gambit, which gives the advantages of the KID's K-side formation (look how effective that Bg7 will be in the Q-side attack) plus gains some space, tempo, and initiative at the cost of a flank pawn.

the benko is actually the soundest gambit positionally.  that one pawn is often a liability, and black can fire the big guns (rooks and queen) down the open files.  white often loses the right to castle, and black is often better even in endgames still one pawn down!

to answer dr. joseph, no, pal benko died recently.  But he always had a huge win record with the opening named for him.

if you are concentrated on the break through and not getting the pawn back then it is very dificult to counter the other similar opening is the benoni whicth blatently dominates the queen side

It has been played by Anand(only 1 game found), Ivanchuk, Kasparov, Topalov.

It has become so popular that, it is now considered main-stream opening (till a refutation is found, which is unlikely).

Its popularity will continue till all the subvariations have been explored at the masters level. Then only we will know whether it will survive or become obsolete.