A nice Leela win over Stockfish 12 in the Benoni Defense

[AdminX]

A nice Leela win over Stockfish 12 in the Benoni Defense played on LiChess. In this game we had an early exchange of queens out of the opening. On move 13 Leela Gambits away it's b-pawn for some active piece play and long term positional pressure. The time control for this game was 5'3 blitz.

Bot NeuralAbyss: LC0 J96-44
Bot ChessHyperbot: Stockfish 12

[pgn]
[Event "Rated Blitz game"]
[Site "lichess.org"]
[Date "2020.12.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "NeuralAbyss"]
[Black "chesshyperbot"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A43"]
[WhiteElo "2376"]
[BlackElo "2430"]
[Annotator "Dragon by Komodo Chess"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
[TimeControl "300+3"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:22"]
[BlackClock "0:00:43"]

1. d4 {3} c5 {3} 2. d5 {5 A43 Benoni Defense: Old Benoni} e6 {0} 3. c4 {9} g6 {
18} 4. e4 {8} Bg7 {15} 5. Nf3 {13 [#]} Nf6 $146 {0} ({Predecessor:} 5... d6 6.
Bd3 exd5 7. exd5 Bg4 8. O-O Ne7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nd7 11. Nc3 O-O 12. Qd1 Ne5
13. Re1 Re8 {1/2-1/2 (68) Urban,K (2478)-Hracek,Z (2624) Warsaw 2009}) 6. Bd3 {
5 A43: Schmid Benoni.} exd5 {6} 7. exd5 {5} Qe7+ {10} 8. Qe2 {10 White is
better.} Qxe2+ {7} 9. Bxe2 {6} O-O {28} 10. Nc3 {1} Na6 {7} 11. Bf4 {13} Re8 {4
} 12. Nb5 {11} Nh5 {9} 13. Bd6 {11} Bxb2 {3} 14. Rb1 {5} Bg7 {8} 15. Nd2 {
17 White has strong compensation.} Nf6 {5} 16. Rb3 {3} b6 {20} 17. a3 {1.11/23
1} ({White should play} 17. Kd1 $18 {1.72/25}) 17... Bf8 {17} 18. Rf3 {14 [#]
And now Bxf8 would win.} Kg7 {18} 19. h4 $1 {1} h5 {4} 20. Rf4 {1} Bxd6 {10}
21. Nxd6 {1} Nc7 {2} 22. Nxe8+ {5} Ncxe8 {6} 23. a4 {1} a6 {11} 24. Rh3 {31} b5
{34} 25. Rhf3 $1 {1} (25. axb5 axb5 26. Rhf3 Ra1+ 27. Bd1 bxc4 $14) 25... Bb7 {
2} 26. a5 {9} (26. cxb5 axb5 27. Bxb5 Bxd5 $11) 26... bxc4 {0} 27. Bxc4 {2} Rb8
{1} 28. Kd1 {28} Rc8 {44} 29. Nb1 {1} Rc7 {9} 30. Nc3 {8} d6 {0} 31. Re3 {3}
Rd7 {6} 32. Bb3 {7} Nc7 {2.90/23 1} (32... Rd8 $142 {2.03/24} 33. Kd2 Bc8) 33.
Ba4 $1 $18 {15} Nfxd5 {9} 34. Nxd5 {7} Nxd5 {0} 35. Bxd7 {0 [#] Threatens to
win with Rb3.} Nxf4 {6 Endgame KRB-KBN} 36. Rb3 {43} Bxg2 {4} 37. Bc8 $1 {0} c4
{9} 38. Rc3 {1} Nd3 {6} 39. Bxa6 {0} d5 {9} 40. Bb7 {30 aiming for Rxd3!} g5 {4
} 41. Kd2 $1 {0} (41. hxg5 h4 $19) 41... gxh4 {4.57/24 9} (41... Nc5 $142 {
3.08/25} 42. Rg3 Nb3+ 43. Kd1 Nxa5 44. Rxg5+ Kh6) 42. Rxc4 $1 {1} dxc4 $2 {
6.73/26 41} (42... h3 {3.89/23} 43. Rh4 Ne5) 43. Bxg2 {7 KB-KN} Ne5 {1} 44. a6
{20} Nd7 {2} 45. a7 {12} Nb6 {1} 46. a8=Q {12 White wants to mate with Qc6.}
Nxa8 {16} 47. Bxa8 {1 KB-KP. White mates.} Kg6 {2} 48. Kc3 {15} h3 {0} 49. Kxc4
{8 KB-K3P} h2 {0} 50. Kd3 {12} Kg5 {0} 51. Ke3 {5} Kf5 {3} 52. Bh1 {6} Ke5 {18}
53. Kf3 {0} Ke6 {0} 54. Kg3 {0} Ke7 {1} 55. Kxh2 {0 KB-KPP} f6 {0} 56. f4 {0}
Kd6 {0} 57. Bf3 {0} h4 {15} 58. Kh3 {1} f5 {2} 59. Kxh4 {0 KB-KP} Ke6 {0} 60.
Kg5 {0} Ke7 {2} 61. Kxf5 {0} Kd6 {1} 62. Kf6 {0} Kc5 {0} 63. f5 {1} Kd6 {2} 64.
Kg5 {0} Ke5 {1} 65. f6 {0} Ke6 {2} 66. Bd5+ $1 {0} Kxd5 {2 KP-K} 67. f7 {0} Kc4
{1} 68. f8=Q {0} Kb5 {1} 69. Kf5 {4} Kc4 {0} 70. Ke4 {0} Kc3 {1} 71. Qc5+ {0}
Kb2 {0} 72. Kd3 {0} Kb3 {0} 73. Qb6+ {0} Ka2 {0} 74. Kc2 {0} Ka1 {0} 75. Qb2# {
3 Normal White wins by checkmate. Weighted Error Value: White=0.03/Black=0.25}
1-0
[/pgn]

[Damir]

Latest Stockfish devs are much stronger than Stockfish 12....

[Cornfed]

Are these not a dime a dozen?
I mean, a real win would be from the BLACK side of the Benoni.

[carldaman]

The following diagram comes from a game where Black does win convincingly from the Black side of a Benoni, against a worthy opponent (let's say stronger than the current human World Champ).

[d]1r1qn1k1/1r1n1p1p/p2p2p1/2pP2P1/3bP3/2N5/RPQBBP1P/5RK1 b - - 0 22

Try to figure out the best move without engine assistance, then you'll appreciate the game below even better.


[pgn]
[Event "30min+20s 4core"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2020.12.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Thinker 5.4D Inert x64"]
[Black "SultanKhan 2.0"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[Annotator "Nezhman"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 {end book both} e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 a6 $5 8. a4 Bg4 9.
Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Qc7 12. O-O Bg7 13. a5 $5 O-O 14. Qc2 $5 Rfb8 $5
{a promising novelty} 15. Be2 Ne8 16. g4 $5 {an original idea by Thinker, but
not followed up correctly} Qd8 $1 17. g5 b5 18. axb6 Rxb6 19. Na4 $2 {the Kn
is misplaced here; White is playing on the wrong side of the board} ({more
consistent was} 19. h4 $5 Rab8 20. Ra2 Rb4 21. Kg2 $5 $13) 19... Rb7 20. Bd2
Bd4 $1 {this achieves more than just pinning the f-pawn} 21. Nc3 $2 {
nevertheless, it was better to move the King - unpin and get ready to launch a
K-side pawn storm} (21. Kh1 $5) (21. Kg2 $5 Ng7 22. f4 f5 $5 (22... f6 23. h4
Rab8 24. Rae1 $5 f5 $5 $44 25. exf5 Nxf5 26. Bg4 Rxb2 $5 27. Nxb2 Rxb2 28. Qc1
Qa8 $5 $44) 23. Rae1 fxe4 24. Bg4 Rab8 25. Qxe4 Nf8 26. f5 gxf5 27. Bxf5 Nxf5
28. Qxf5 Ng6 {again with a very double-edged position}) 21... Rab8 {[*see note
at the end]} 22. Ra2 $6 {[#]} h6 $3 {[%mdl 2628] a brilliant sac, well
prepared by the crafty Bg7-d4 and Qc7-d8 before that} 23. gxh6 ({it may have
been better was to decline with} 23. h4 $5 hxg5 24. Bxg5 Ndf6 $5 (24... Nef6
25. Bxa6 Ne5 $3 26. Kg2 $1 (26. Bxb7 $4 Qd7 $19) 26... Qd7 27. Be2 Nh5 28. f4
$2 (28. Bc1 $5 $15) 28... Nc4 $3 29. Bxc4 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Qg3+ 31. Kh1 Qh3+ 32.
Qh2 Ng3#) 25. Bxa6 Rb4 26. Be2 Qd7 $1 (26... Ng7 $5 27. h5 $5 gxh5 28. Kg2 $1)
27. Kg2 Ng7 $5 $40 (27... Ng4 28. Qd2 $5) 28. Rfa1 Qe8 $1 29. Bf3 Ngh5 {
and Black has strong attacking prospects} 30. Qe2 Kg7 $5 {planning} 31. Z0 Qe5
$1) 23... Qh4 {The Black Queen's presence slants the board towards the White
Kingside} 24. Kh1 Nef6 25. f4 Qh3 26. Qc1 Ng4 27. Bxg4 Qxg4 28. Qd1 Qh4 29. Bc1
Nf6 {61} 30. Qf3 Rb3 {in typical fashion, Khan is using the whole board to
pressure the opponent} 31. e5 Ng4 32. Qg3 Qh5 33. exd6 Nxh6 34. Qf3 Qf5 35. Qe4
$6 Qd7 $1 {Black is maximizing the activity of his pieces, not caring about
small details such as pawns} 36. Rxa6 Nf5 37. Qf3 Kg7 $1 $19 {a decisive King
lift! - the Black Rooks can soon dominate the h-file} 38. Rd1 Nxd6 39. Ra2 Rh8
40. Qg2 Nf5 41. Qg4 Rh4 42. Qg2 Rb8 $1 {the other Rook becomes available for
K-side play while still eyeing the b-file} 43. b4 {seeking desperate
counterplay, but White is doomed} (43. Z0 Rbh8 {and} 44. Z0 Ng3+ {were coming})
43... Bxc3 44. bxc5 Qb5 45. Qf3 Bd4 46. Rg2 Qc4 47. Ba3 Rb3 {0-1 A great
display of power chess on both flanks, from the Black side of a Benoni (a
Benoni-dream position!) against a capable engine that's probably stronger than
the human WCh. [*what's interesting is that further analysis suggests that 21..
.h6!!, a move earlier, was perhaps even stronger (hah!)]} 0-1
[/pgn]

[Cornfed]

The following diagram comes from a game where Black does win convincingly from the Black side of a Benoni, against a worthy opponent (let's say stronger than the current human World Champ).

[d]1r1qn1k1/1r1n1p1p/p2p2p1/2pP2P1/3bP3/2N5/RPQBBP1P/5RK1 b - - 0 22

Try to figure out the best move without engine assistance, then you'll appreciate the game below even better.


[pgn]
[Event "30min+20s 4core"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2020.12.16"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Thinker 5.4D Inert x64"]
[Black "SultanKhan 2.0"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A70"]
[Annotator "Nezhman"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 {end book both} e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 a6 $5 8. a4 Bg4 9.
Be2 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nbd7 11. Bf4 Qc7 12. O-O Bg7 13. a5 $5 O-O 14. Qc2 $5 Rfb8 $5
{a promising novelty} 15. Be2 Ne8 16. g4 $5 {an original idea by Thinker, but
not followed up correctly} Qd8 $1 17. g5 b5 18. axb6 Rxb6 19. Na4 $2 {the Kn
is misplaced here; White is playing on the wrong side of the board} ({more
consistent was} 19. h4 $5 Rab8 20. Ra2 Rb4 21. Kg2 $5 $13) 19... Rb7 20. Bd2
Bd4 $1 {this achieves more than just pinning the f-pawn} 21. Nc3 $2 {
nevertheless, it was better to move the King - unpin and get ready to launch a
K-side pawn storm} (21. Kh1 $5) (21. Kg2 $5 Ng7 22. f4 f5 $5 (22... f6 23. h4
Rab8 24. Rae1 $5 f5 $5 $44 25. exf5 Nxf5 26. Bg4 Rxb2 $5 27. Nxb2 Rxb2 28. Qc1
Qa8 $5 $44) 23. Rae1 fxe4 24. Bg4 Rab8 25. Qxe4 Nf8 26. f5 gxf5 27. Bxf5 Nxf5
28. Qxf5 Ng6 {again with a very double-edged position}) 21... Rab8 {[*see note
at the end]} 22. Ra2 $6 {[#]} h6 $3 {[%mdl 2628] a brilliant sac, well
prepared by the crafty Bg7-d4 and Qc7-d8 before that} 23. gxh6 ({it may have
been better was to decline with} 23. h4 $5 hxg5 24. Bxg5 Ndf6 $5 (24... Nef6
25. Bxa6 Ne5 $3 26. Kg2 $1 (26. Bxb7 $4 Qd7 $19) 26... Qd7 27. Be2 Nh5 28. f4
$2 (28. Bc1 $5 $15) 28... Nc4 $3 29. Bxc4 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Qg3+ 31. Kh1 Qh3+ 32.
Qh2 Ng3#) 25. Bxa6 Rb4 26. Be2 Qd7 $1 (26... Ng7 $5 27. h5 $5 gxh5 28. Kg2 $1)
27. Kg2 Ng7 $5 $40 (27... Ng4 28. Qd2 $5) 28. Rfa1 Qe8 $1 29. Bf3 Ngh5 {
and Black has strong attacking prospects} 30. Qe2 Kg7 $5 {planning} 31. Z0 Qe5
$1) 23... Qh4 {The Black Queen's presence slants the board towards the White
Kingside} 24. Kh1 Nef6 25. f4 Qh3 26. Qc1 Ng4 27. Bxg4 Qxg4 28. Qd1 Qh4 29. Bc1
Nf6 {61} 30. Qf3 Rb3 {in typical fashion, Khan is using the whole board to
pressure the opponent} 31. e5 Ng4 32. Qg3 Qh5 33. exd6 Nxh6 34. Qf3 Qf5 35. Qe4
$6 Qd7 $1 {Black is maximizing the activity of his pieces, not caring about
small details such as pawns} 36. Rxa6 Nf5 37. Qf3 Kg7 $1 $19 {a decisive King
lift! - the Black Rooks can soon dominate the h-file} 38. Rd1 Nxd6 39. Ra2 Rh8
40. Qg2 Nf5 41. Qg4 Rh4 42. Qg2 Rb8 $1 {the other Rook becomes available for
K-side play while still eyeing the b-file} 43. b4 {seeking desperate
counterplay, but White is doomed} (43. Z0 Rbh8 {and} 44. Z0 Ng3+ {were coming})
43... Bxc3 44. bxc5 Qb5 45. Qf3 Bd4 46. Rg2 Qc4 47. Ba3 Rb3 {0-1 A great
display of power chess on both flanks, from the Black side of a Benoni (a
Benoni-dream position!) against a capable engine that's probably stronger than
the human WCh. [*what's interesting is that further analysis suggests that 21..
.h6!!, a move earlier, was perhaps even stronger (hah!)]} 0-1
[/pgn]

But if SF or even Lela won with Back against the other...THAT would be of note. We never see those...because it's strategically a dubious opening. T

[carldaman]

But if SF or even Lela won with Back against the other...THAT would be of note. We never see those...because it's strategically a dubious opening. T

Right, I myself don't play the Benoni for that same reason, but it still appeals to certain human players who like murky positions that are ripe for counter-attacks. Since people still make mistakes, that gives the Benoni players potential practical chances, especially when needing a 'must' win with Black.

This game can serve as an illustration of Black's hidden potential, *IF* White mishandles the opening. Yes, I know, White wasn't a human, but another engine, a tough opponent, nonetheless - even surpassing the strongest humans in strength.

PS. Games between two top engines that hardly ever go wrong don't really appeal to me.

[Cornfed]

But if SF or even Lela won with Back against the other...THAT would be of note. We never see those...because it's strategically a dubious opening. T

Right, I myself don't play the Benoni for that same reason, but it still appeals to certain human players who like murky positions that are ripe for counter-attacks. Since people still make mistakes, that gives the Benoni players potential practical chances, especially when needing a 'must' win with Black.

This game can serve as an illustration of Black's hidden potential, *IF* White mishandles the opening. Yes, I know, White wasn't a human, but another engine, a tough opponent, nonetheless - even surpassing the strongest humans in strength.

PS. Games between two top engines that hardly ever go wrong don't really appeal to me.

One problem is that...one can't order up 'murky' on demand if White is half-way sensible.

The Benoni was the only thing in my playbook at one time. A few years back, I had black in the last round of the State Championship, needing only a draw (due to tie-breaks) against a 2350 I had beaten in a recent tourney (with a Benoni...) and he was ready this time. It wasn't pretty...when the slightest thing 'goes wrong' in the Benoni, it is likely to not end pretty for Black.

I ran a bunch of my older games thru an older Komodo recently and was particularly depressed by that game...

"Son of Sorrow" I think was the sub-title or somesuch of a Book on the Benoni at one time...rightly so. Even Tal had to give it up and that was 'pre-computer'.

[carldaman]

Yeah, 'Son of Sorrow' is about right. I remember a friend of mine of master strength was a regular Benoni fanatic, but had his hands full with it whenever facing stronger opposition. It still has its fans among masters, though.

I still believe it could work as a surprise weapon, and maybe just in must-win situations. The 2350 types can't know you're a habitual Benoni customer, or you'll be toast. You'll also have to feel like you know and understand it better than those opponents before deploying it.

I hope a game like the one I posted can alleviate some of the Benoni sorrow and reinject some confidence into adopting it, at least for a while.