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Final position — Black is winning

Benko Gambit

Benko Gambit: Opening Trap (Domanski–Schlesinger)

Black wins in 11 moves with a decisive material gain. (Domanski - Schlesinger, Giessen 1991)

The moves

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 axb5 6.Bxb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Bb7 8.Bd2 Qb6 9.Bc4 e6 10.Bc1 Qb4 11.Qb3 exd5
1.d4Nf6
2.c4c5
3.d5b5
4.cxb5a6
5.e3axb5
6.Bxb5Qa5+
7.Nc3Bb7
8.Bd2Qb6
9.Bc4e6
10.Bc1Qb4
11.Qb3exd5

How the Benko Gambit: Opening Trap (Domanski–Schlesinger) works

The Benko Gambit: Opening Trap (Domanski–Schlesinger) is a classic chess opening trap arising from the Benko Gambit. In this line Black wins decisive material by move 11, punishing a natural-looking but losing idea from White.

The full sequence runs 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 axb5 6.Bxb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Bb7 8.Bd2 Qb6 9.Bc4 e6 10.Bc1 Qb4 11.Qb3 exd5. Each move looks reasonable, which is exactly why the trap is so effective over the board — White walks into it while trying to play "normal" developing moves.

This pattern is well known from master and correspondence play (Domanski - Schlesinger, Giessen 1991). Recognising it early lets you either spring it as Black or sidestep it as White.

Practice this trap move-by-move

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