The Czech Benoni arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5 (ECO A56). Black locks the centre with pawns on c5 and e5 against White's pawn on d5, getting a solid but cramped blockaded structure.
The play is closed and manoeuvring: White usually advances on the queenside and in the centre (b4, f4) while Black looks for counterplay with ...f5 on the kingside. Exchanges are hard to arrange, and precise piece manoeuvring matters most.
The Benoni is a family of openings with a pawn on c5 against White's queen's pawn; the Czech version is its most closed and positional form. It suits players who like fighting for key squares in tight structures.
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