Opening Lessons From Wrocław VII

IN round seven I had white against Mateusz Ambrosiak (1441).

Benoni

1.d4 c5 2.d5

This 'automatic' reply is not the only choice of strong players, who have also tried e3, c3, Nf3, dxc5, e4, c4 and even Nc3.

2...g6 3.e4 d6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Nf3 Bg4?!

This seems a little strange in that after 6.h3 Black either gives up a tempo with 5...Bd7 or, as in the game, the bishop-pair. Normal is 5...Nf6, but the text has been played by grandmasters.

6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Nf6 8.Bg5!?

Usual is 8.Be2. The text is not much liked by the analysis engines Stockfish14 and Komdo12.1.1.

8...0-0 9.Be2 Na6

The knight is headed for c7 to support the queenside thrust ...b5.

10.0-0

White has connected rooks in just 10 moves, and the opening can be thought of as over

White has the bishop-pair and more central space, but Black is well-placed for action on the queenside. The engines give White the upper hand. The full game can be seen at https://beauchess.blogspot.com/2021/08/wrocaw-round-seven.html