ECO A43 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit

1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5 3. e4

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

3… fxe4+1.27

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit (A43), reached after 1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5 3. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… fxe4 for Black. White is clearly better (+1.27).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.273… fxe4 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. h4 e6 6. Nh3 Na6 7. Bg5 Nb4 8. dxe6
  2. +1.443… d6 4. exf5 Bxf5 5. Nc3 Na6 6. g4 Bd7 7. h4 Nc7 8. Bg2
  3. +1.853… e6 4. Nc3 fxe4 5. Nh3 Nf6 6. Ng5 Qb6 7. Ngxe4 Be7 8. Nxf6+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit?
After 1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5 3. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… fxe4 for Black, continuing 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. h4 e6 6. Nh3 Na6 7. Bg5 Nb4 8. dxe6. White is clearly better (+1.27). The next best moves are 3… d6 (+1.44) and 3… e6 (+1.85).
Is the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.27: white is clearly 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 Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit?
A43. 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+).