Chesspedia, the Free Chess Encyclopedia.

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h

Benko's Opening is a chess opening is characterized by the move 1. g3.

1.g3 is a fairly popular first move, of the twenty possible opening moves, 1.g3 ranks fifth in popularity. The idea behind the move 1.g3 is to play 2.Bg2, fianchettoing the bishop. Usually the game will transpose to another opening such as the Catalan Opening, King's Indian Attack or some variation of the English Opening.

It is named after Pal Benko, who used 1.g3 to defeat Bobby Fischer and Mikhail Tal in rounds one and three of the 1962 Candidates Tournament in Curaçao.