Jobava’s Ambitious Benoni Defense - Part 1
A Fighting Weapon Built on Understanding, Not Memory
The Benoni Defense has long divided the chess world. Some see it as inherently dubious, a gamble that promises complications but concedes space. Others recognize it as a weapon of choice for players who refuse to settle for equality—those who seek imbalance, initiative, and winning chances with Black. GM Baadur Jobava belongs firmly to the second camp. In Jobava's Ambitious Benoni Defense - Part 1, created alongside IM Dragos Ceres, Jobava presents the opening not as a collection of concrete variations to memorize, but as a strategic philosophy: unbalanced positions, tactical opportunities, and structures that reward understanding over learning.
What makes this course stand out is the move order. Rather than the classical 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6—the Modern Benoni starting point—Jobava advocates 3...g6 first, delaying ...e6 until the position demands it. This subtle shift completely changes Black's preparation burden. By avoiding early commitment, Black sidesteps White's most forcing theoretical lines and enters middlegames where ideas matter more than precise move sequences. The result: a repertoire you can learn in hours, not months, yet one sharp enough to challenge anyone—from club players to elite grandmasters.
The Authors and Their Approach
GM Baadur Jobava and IM Dragos Ceres have proven to be a formidable creative partnership. The Georgian grandmaster, known for his unorthodox opening choices and attacking brilliance, brings positions that demand creativity over conformity. Ceres contributes structural clarity and pedagogical precision, ensuring complex ideas remain accessible without sacrificing depth. Their previous collaborations—Play the French Gambit – Top-Level Repertoire for White and The Dubov Dragon—showcased their ability to revive forgotten ideas with modern precision. Here, they turn that same lens on the Benoni, offering Black players a weapon rooted in classical themes but sharpened for contemporary play.
What's Inside
The course covers every major White setup after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 d6, organized into clear, thematic chapters:
- 11 Chapters systematically addressing White's options: Four Pawns Attack (6.f4), Knight to e2 systems (6.Nge2, 6.Bd3 + Nge2), Averbakh-style Bg5, Saemisch f3, modern h3 lines, Nd2 prophylaxis against Bg4, and positional approaches with exd5
- 30 Test Positions designed to sharpen tactical vision and reinforce key concepts
- Memory Booster for efficient retention of critical ideas
- 3 Hours and 43 Minutes of video instruction
- To Go Version of every chapter for quick studying
- 15-Minute Overview by IM Dragos Ceres, distilling the entire repertoire into its essential themes
- Multilingual PGN Files available in English, German, French, and Spanish
Variation Map
Starting Position: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 d6
White's 6th Move Options:
- 6.f4 (Four Pawns Attack) → Chapter 1
- 6.Nge2 (Flexible Knight Development) → Chapter 2
- 6.Bd3 O-O 7.Nge2 (Bishop to d3 System) → Chapter 3
- 6.Be2 O-O 7.Bg5 (Averbakh-Style Setup) → Chapter 4
- 6.f3 (Saemisch System) → Chapter 5
- 6.Nf3 O-O:
- 7.Bd3 (allows 7...Bg4) → Chapter 6
- 7.Nd2 (preventing Bg4) → Chapter 7
- 7.h3 e6 8.Bd3 exd5:
- 9.cxd5 b5 10.Bxb5 Nxe4 → Chapter 8
- 9.cxd5 b5 10.Nxb5 Re8 → Chapter 9 (Critical Main Line)
- 9.exd5 (Positional Exchange) → Chapter 10
- 7.Be2 (Quiet Development) → Chapter 11
The structure is intuitive: each chapter isolates one White system, explains the underlying ideas, and provides concrete plans. Whether you're facing the aggressive Four Pawns Attack or the restrained Be2 setup, you'll know exactly what Black is fighting for.
Why This Benoni?
The genius of Jobava and Ceres’s repertoire lies in its practicality. By choosing 3...g6 over 3...e6, Black avoids the theoretical minefield of the Modern Benoni while preserving all its dynamic potential. You're not learning twenty moves deep in sharp lines; you're learning the positions—where pieces belong, which pawn breaks to prepare, when to sacrifice for initiative. This is chess education in the classical sense: principles that outlast database updates.
The Complete Picture: Part 2 on the Horizon
Part 1 addresses what happens when White commits to the full Benoni structure with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5. But ambitious opening repertoires face a practical problem: opponents who avoid the main lines entirely.
Jobava's Benoni Defense – Fight the Anti-Benoni Systems (releasing November 13, 2025) completes the project by covering every sideline where White declines the theoretical battle. This includes:
The Fianchetto System (g2-g3 setups) — Where White aims for slow positional pressure rather than central confrontation. Jobava's recommendation maintains the Benoni spirit: 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, Black's active piece play compensates for White's solid setup.
The London System (2.Bf4) — The move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5!? transforms a typically dull opening into sharp Benoni terrain on Black's terms.
The Trompowsky (2.Bg5) — Met with the same 2...c5!? approach, maintaining thematic consistency across all White tries.
The Critical 2.Nf3 Move Order — This has traditionally been considered the most annoying way to sidestep the Benoni. Jobava's solution: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 b5!? — an ambitious pawn sacrifice that keeps the initiative and avoids sterile positions. This line alone justifies Part 2's existence for serious Benoni practitioners.
Together, the two parts provide complete coverage: Part 1 handles the main theoretical lines after 5.e4, while Part 2 ensures you're never caught off guard by sideline avoidance. The philosophy remains constant—dynamic, creative positions where understanding matters more than memorization.
For players tired of dry equality after 1...d5, the Benoni offers something rare—a path to winning positions without waiting for White's mistakes. It's chess on your terms.
INTRODUCTION BY GM BAADUR JOBAVA
Introduction – ? *
E90 The Ambitious Benoni for Black 2025.??.?? [GM Baadur Jobava]
Welcome everybody, to "The Ambitious Benoni for Black." This has always been one of my favorite openings, because it allows Black to fight for the initiative from the very first moves. I like the Benoni because it creates fresh, unbalanced positions, full of ideas and tactical opportunities — the perfect battlefield for creative players. At the same time, the structure of this course makes it easy to learn: after just a few hours, you'll be ready to face 1.d4 with confidence and play for a win against anyone, even the strongest grandmasters. The course is divided into clear, practical chapters, covering every important setup White can choose, from the solid systems with h3 to the sharp Modern lines. 1. d4 ♘f6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 g6 This is my favorite move order, because here we can rely on understanding rather than endless memorization.SAMPLE CHAPTER