Answers.Body: <p>The position you've shown looks at first glance to be a poor side-line of the Benko (Volga) gambit for white, both the timing of <code>h3</code> and <code>Nc3</code> seem out of place. For instance let's reach that position (somewhat sensibly) by the following line: (annotated)</p>
  
  <pre><code> [title "A path to OP's Benko gambit sideline"]
   [fen ""]
   1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bf4 Bg7 6.h3 {h3 is well unnecessary here, in Benko the c8 bishop doesn't target the g4 square anyway, and if the f6 knight wants to re-route to e5 it doesn't have to go via g4, but d7. Thus, h3 is a waste of a tempo when white is already behind in development} (6.Nbd2 O-O 7.e4 {is much more to the point if you don't want to accept the gambit}) (6.e3 {yet another possibility, Nbd2 Be2 O-O are in queue unless black does something active} d6 {black cannot allow d6}) d6 7.Nc3 O-O 8.e3 {this is your suggestion: it doesn't really work here as you c3 knight is misplaced if you don't want to accept the gambit, now b4 comes with a tempo and your knight will end up either on the rim or hindering your own pieces} (8.Nxb5 {seems to be the most sensible choice, not damaging your pawn structure and not offering black to play a6 getting rid of its weak pawn and activating the bishop via a6-f1 diagonal.} Ne4 9.Nd2 {Not giving black chance to take on b2} Qa5 {pinning the knight and preventing Nc3 and preparing to take on b2 again} 10.Qc2 {sure visually it doesn't look great for white, but we're holding for the moment.}) (8.cxb5 a6 {accepts the gambit again but allows for the usual follow-up with a6-bxa6-Qb6 etc}) b4 {when the knight is on d2, b4 is less dangerous because you'll still be able to challenge it with a3 in time} 9.Ne2 Ne4 {g7 bishop alone is dominating the position, white lacks in development and dark square control, without any real other compensation to speak of} 10.Nd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 a5 {I think at this point black's advantage is quite clear.}
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>To conclude the above analysis in short key takeaways:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>This is generally not a desirable Benko line for white. <code>6.h3</code> seems well out of place, white should be pushing to complete development (so that you can quickly start challenging black's queen-side or creating play in the center, none of which is possible with your king still on <code>e1</code>.)</li>
  <li><code>7.Nc3</code> is not the way to go if you don't want to accept the gambit, you're allowing <code>b4</code> without any repercussions for black, and your knight will be mis-placed. <code>7.Nbd2</code> is a much better try. If you want to stick to <code>7.Nc3</code> then it's best to start considering accepting the gambit, either <code>8.Nxb5</code> or <code>8.cxb5</code> each with their own merit and far more playable than <code>8.e3.</code></li>
  <li>After <code>8.e3 b4</code> white is objectively behind: the knights seem out of coordination, the bishop on <code>f4</code> is staring at a wall, there are no clear pawn breaks for white, the queen-side is permanently weak and there are no quick ways of creating counter-play on the king-side as we're far behind in any attempt to challenge the <code>g7</code> bishop (<code>Qd2-Bf4</code> battery is not possible with <code>e3</code>, nor is there any re-routing for the bishop to return to <code>d4-g7</code> diagonal). This also answers your <strong>main</strong> question: Black should not respond by <code>Nbd7</code> after <code>8.e3</code>, instead <strong><code>8...b4</code></strong> is the <strong>main</strong> move to consider, exploiting the mis-placed <code>c3</code> knight while increasing your grip on the dark squares, leaving no real ways for white to challenge the <code>g7</code> bishop (note <code>b4</code> is also stopping any future attempts at <code>Bd2-Bc3</code>)</li>
  <li>Small recommendation (for the white side): avoid the <code>Bf4</code> side-lines, none of them are really interesting for white, in fact in many of the Benko variations the bishop belongs to its original <code>c1</code> square for a long time as <code>b2</code> is continuously under pressure. Instead consider the <code>5.Qc2</code> variation if you don't want to accept the gambit, which can roughly go as follows: <code>5.Qc2 Bg7 6.e4 d6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O</code>. I think after going through some of the possible side-lines of this variation, you can convince yourself that this is a much more sound continuation for white. Alternatively, accepting the gambit is known to yield the best play for white, namely lines such as <code>5.cxb5 a6 6.bxa6 Bxa6 7.Nc3</code> (black does have a different kind of compensation now, but by accepting the gambit we've prevented <code>b4</code> altogether and revived chances to challenge the dark-squares) <code>7...Bg7</code> and many ways for white to continue.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Welcome to ask additional questions, either regarding the analysis or more related to the black side of the Benko gambit.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-01-24T17:50:29.170Z
Answers.Text: What are Black's plans after he plays ...b4?
Answers.UserDisplayName: Jossie Calderon
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-01-24T21:51:13.087Z
Answers.Text: @JossieCalderon You mean after `8.e3`? It's going to be very natural play for black then on, for example `8...b4 9.Nd2` (basically forced) `9...Ne4 10.Qc2 a5` (`a4` coming next, note `11.a3` doesn't work due to `11...Bf5 g4 12.Ng5`). Plan is to permanently pin down `b2`, or open the `a-`file, and finish development with possibly `Bf5`, `Na6` to `b4.` For instance after `10.Qc2 a5` `11.Ng3` only sensible move to challenge the pesky knight on `e4`, then `11...Nxg3 12.Bxg3 a4 13.Rd1 b3 14.axb3 axb3 15.Qxb3 Qa5+ 16.Nd2 Bd7` and white is slowly collapsing, there's just no play and no useful pieces.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ellie
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-01-24T16:18:09.533Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-01-24T16:18:09.533Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ellie
Body: <pre><code>rnbq1rk1/p3ppbp/3p1np1/1ppP4/2P2B2/2N2N1P/PP2PPP1/R2QKB1R b KQ - 0 8
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In the above position, Black gets a solid initiative and easy play on the weak White queenside pawns after <code>1.cxb5 (1. Nxb5? Ne4!)</code>.</p>
  
  <p>But White can decline with <code>1.e3</code>, intending <code>2.Be2</code>, <code>3.O-O</code>. Should Black respond with <code>1...Nbd7</code>, waiting for White to take the pawn?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-01-25T14:56:44.993Z
Comments.Text: Dear Jossie, have you found this answer useful? Generally, I've noticed you have lots unaccepted posts even though most of them have received rather decent answers (such as this one), and that's a pity, please consider going through them again when you have time and consider accepting. It helps to have closure on posts.
Comments.UserDisplayName: user929304
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-01-25T19:33:23.583Z
Comments.Text: Please consider removing your comma splice first, @user929304.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Jossie Calderon
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Comments.CreationDate: 2018-01-25T21:58:00.630Z
Comments.Text: comma splice? Excuse me?
Comments.UserDisplayName: user929304
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-01-26T12:19:15.310Z
Comments.Text: @user929304 http://lmgtfy.com/?q=comma+splice You're excused bro
Comments.UserDisplayName: Jossie Calderon
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Comments.CreationDate: 2018-01-26T18:53:52.443Z
Comments.Text: @JossieCalderon user929304 is right about this. Point of accepting answers is not *reputation score* related, sure that helps a bit to motivate users and grow the community, but rather it is primarily an indicator showing that the question has been solved and that a particular answer was sufficiently helpful in solving the problem. This is crucial for the longevity of the platform and its future readers.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Ellie
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-01-27T05:17:24.043Z
Comments.Text: @Phonon Comma. Splice.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Jossie Calderon
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2018-01-30T00:44:25.900Z
Comments.Text: @JossieCalderon Dear Jossie, Have you found this answer useful? I've noticed that you have many unaccepted posts, even though most of them (such as this one) have received decent answers. That is a pity. Please consider going through them again when you have time and accepting the best answer. It helps to have closure on posts.
Comments.UserDisplayName: NoseKnowsAll
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
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Comments.Text: @user929304 Learn from NoseKnowsAll
Comments.UserDisplayName: Jossie Calderon
Tags: <opening><gambits><benko-gambit>
Title: What if White declines the Volga Gambit?
ThreadText: # What if White declines the Volga Gambit?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-24)
  
  rnbq1rk1/p3ppbp/3p1np1/1ppP4/2P2B2/2N2N1P/PP2PPP1/R2QKB1R b KQ - 0 8
  
  In the above position, Black gets a solid initiative and easy play on the weak White queenside pawns after 1.cxb5 (1. Nxb5? Ne4!).
  But White can decline with 1.e3, intending 2.Be2, 3.O-O. Should Black respond with 1...Nbd7, waiting for White to take the pawn?
  
  **Tags:** opening, gambits, benko-gambit
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Dear Jossie, have you found this answer useful? Generally, I've noticed you have lots unaccepted posts even though most of them have received rather decent answers (such as this one), and that's a pity, please consider going through them again when you have time and consider accepting. It helps to have closure on posts.  
  > **username_0**: Please consider removing your comma splice first, @username_1.  
  > **username_1**: comma splice? Excuse me?  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 http://lmgtfy.com/?q=comma+splice You're excused bro  
  > **username_2**: @JossieCalderon username_1 is right about this. Point of accepting answers is not *reputation score* related, sure that helps a bit to motivate users and grow the community, but rather it is primarily an indicator showing that the question has been solved and that a particular answer was sufficiently helpful in solving the problem. This is crucial for the longevity of the platform and its future readers.  
  > **username_0**: @Phonon Comma. Splice.  
  > **username_3**: @JossieCalderon Dear Jossie, Have you found this answer useful? I've noticed that you have many unaccepted posts, even though most of them (such as this one) have received decent answers. That is a pity. Please consider going through them again when you have time and accepting the best answer. It helps to have closure on posts.  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 Learn from username_3  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2018-01-24. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  The position you've shown looks at first glance to be a poor side-line of the Benko (Volga) gambit for white, both the timing of h3 and Nc3 seem out of place. For instance let's reach that position (somewhat sensibly) by the following line: (annotated)
   [title "A path to OP's Benko gambit sideline"]
   [fen ""]
   1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bf4 Bg7 6.h3 {h3 is well unnecessary here, in Benko the c8 bishop doesn't target the g4 square anyway, and if the f6 knight wants to re-route to e5 it doesn't have to go via g4, but d7. Thus, h3 is a waste of a tempo when white is already behind in development} (6.Nbd2 O-O 7.e4 {is much more to the point if you don't want to accept the gambit}) (6.e3 {yet another possibility, Nbd2 Be2 O-O are in queue unless black does something active} d6 {black cannot allow d6}) d6 7.Nc3 O-O 8.e3 {this is your suggestion: it doesn't really work here as you c3 knight is misplaced if you don't want to accept the gambit, now b4 comes with a tempo and your knight will end up either on the rim or hindering your own pieces} (8.Nxb5 {seems to be the most sensible choice, not damaging your pawn structure and not offering black to play a6 getting rid of its weak pawn and activating the bishop via a6-f1 diagonal.} Ne4 9.Nd2 {Not giving black chance to take on b2} Qa5 {pinning the knight and preventing Nc3 and preparing to take on b2 again} 10.Qc2 {sure visually it doesn't look great for white, but we're holding for the moment.}) (8.cxb5 a6 {accepts the gambit again but allows for the usual follow-up with a6-bxa6-Qb6 etc}) b4 {when the knight is on d2, b4 is less dangerous because you'll still be able to challenge it with a3 in time} 9.Ne2 Ne4 {g7 bishop alone is dominating the position, white lacks in development and dark square control, without any real other compensation to speak of} 10.Nd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 a5 {I think at this point black's advantage is quite clear.}
  
  To conclude the above analysis in short key takeaways:
  
  This is generally not a desirable Benko line for white. 6.h3 seems well out of place, white should be pushing to complete development (so that you can quickly start challenging black's queen-side or creating play in the center, none of which is possible with your king still on e1.)
  7.Nc3 is not the way to go if you don't want to accept the gambit, you're allowing b4 without any repercussions for black, and your knight will be mis-placed. 7.Nbd2 is a much better try. If you want to stick to 7.Nc3 then it's best to start considering accepting the gambit, either 8.Nxb5 or 8.cxb5 each with their own merit and far more playable than 8.e3.
  After 8.e3 b4 white is objectively behind: the knights seem out of coordination, the bishop on f4 is staring at a wall, there are no clear pawn breaks for white, the queen-side is permanently weak and there are no quick ways of creating counter-play on the king-side as we're far behind in any attempt to challenge the g7 bishop (Qd2-Bf4 battery is not possible with e3, nor is there any re-routing for the bishop to return to d4-g7 diagonal). This also answers your main question: Black should not respond by Nbd7 after 8.e3, instead 8...b4 is the main move to consider, exploiting the mis-placed c3 knight while increasing your grip on the dark squares, leaving no real ways for white to challenge the g7 bishop (note b4 is also stopping any future attempts at Bd2-Bc3)
  Small recommendation (for the white side): avoid the Bf4 side-lines, none of them are really interesting for white, in fact in many of the Benko variations the bishop belongs to its original c1 square for a long time as b2 is continuously under pressure. Instead consider the 5.Qc2 variation if you don't want to accept the gambit, which can roughly go as follows: 5.Qc2 Bg7 6.e4 d6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O. I think after going through some of the possible side-lines of this variation, you can convince yourself that this is a much more sound continuation for white. Alternatively, accepting the gambit is known to yield the best play for white, namely lines such as 5.cxb5 a6 6.bxa6 Bxa6 7.Nc3 (black does have a different kind of compensation now, but by accepting the gambit we've prevented b4 altogether and revived chances to challenge the dark-squares) 7...Bg7 and many ways for white to continue.
  
  Welcome to ask additional questions, either regarding the analysis or more related to the black side of the Benko gambit.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: What are Black's plans after he plays ...b4?  
  > **username_2**: @JossieCalderon You mean after `8.e3`? It's going to be very natural play for black then on, for example `8...b4 9.Nd2` (basically forced) `9...Ne4 10.Qc2 a5` (`a4` coming next, note `11.a3` doesn't work due to `11...Bf5 g4 12.Ng5`). Plan is to permanently pin down `b2`, or open the `a-`file, and finish development with possibly `Bf5`, `Na6` to `b4.` For instance after `10.Qc2 a5` `11.Ng3` only sensible move to challenge the pesky knight on `e4`, then `11...Nxg3 12.Bxg3 a4 13.Rd1 b3 14.axb3 axb3 15.Qxb3 Qa5+ 16.Nd2 Bd7` and white is slowly collapsing, there's just no play and no useful pieces.  
  
  ---
  
  