ECO A57 · Benko Gambit Declined

Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4… b4+0.41

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line (A57), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… b4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.41).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.414… b4 5. a3 g6 6. e4 Nxe4 7. axb4 cxb4 8. Qd4 Nf6 9. Rxa7
  2. +0.464… Bb7 5. Qc2 bxc4 6. e4 e6 7. Bxc4 exd5 8. exd5 Bxd5 9. Bxd5
  3. +0.524… Qa5+ 5. Nbd2 bxc4 6. e4 Ba6 7. Be2 Nxe4 8. O-O Nd6 9. Ne5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… b4 for Black, continuing 5. a3 g6 6. e4 Nxe4 7. axb4 cxb4 8. Qd4 Nf6 9. Rxa7. White is slightly better (+0.41). The next best moves are 4… Bb7 (+0.46) and 4… Qa5+ (+0.52).
Is the Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.41: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line?
A57. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).