Benoni Defense
The Benoni Defense (ECO A40–A79) is a chess opening that begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5.
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The main line
The Benoni Defense is reached by 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 (ECO A56). It's one of 61 named lines under this opening in the book.
Named variations (27)
- Classical Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4(A70) - King's Pawn Line —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4(A65) - Old Benoni —
1. d4 c5(A43) - Fianchetto Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g3(A61) - Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit —
1. d4 c5 2. b4(A43) - Benoni-Indian Defense —
1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6(A43) - Modern Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6(A60) - Four Pawns Attack —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O(A68) - Benoni Gambit Accepted —
1. d4 c5 2. dxc5(A43) - Snail Variation —
1. d4 c5 2. d5 Na6(A43) - Cormorant Gambit —
1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 b6(A43) - Benoni Gambit —
1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 Na6(A43) - Benoni-Staunton Gambit —
1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5 3. e4(A43) - French Benoni —
1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 3. d5(A43) - Semi-Benoni —
1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. e4 d6(A44) - Czech Benoni Defense —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5(A56) - Hromádka System —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 d6(A56) - Hawk Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 c4(A43) - Woozle —
1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 Qa5(A43) - Weenink Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. dxc5 e6(A56) - King's Indian System —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 g6(A56) - Pawn Storm Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4(A66) - Knight's Tour Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nd2(A61) - Uhlmann Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg5(A61) - Franco-Sicilian Hybrid —
1. d4 e6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 exd5 4. cxd5 d6 5. Nc3 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Nf3 Ne7(A40) - Mikenas Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. e5(A66) - Taimanov Variation —
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+(A67)
Analyze the Benoni Defense
Play through this opening on the free analysis board, or review one of your own gamesto see how accurately you handled it — every move classified, with the engine's best line on each mistake.
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