ECO A70 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Classical Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4

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

7… a6+0.75

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation (A70), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… a6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.75).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.757… a6 8. a4 Bg4 9. Qb3 Bxf3 10. Qxb7 Bxg2 11. Bxg2 Nbd7 12. O-O
  2. +0.757… Bg7 8. Nd2 O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O Na6 11. f3 Nc7 12. a4
  3. +0.987… Qe7 8. Bb5+ Nbd7 9. e5 dxe5 10. O-O Bg7 11. d6 Qd8 12. Bg5

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… a6 for Black, continuing 8. a4 Bg4 9. Qb3 Bxf3 10. Qxb7 Bxg2 11. Bxg2 Nbd7 12. O-O. White is slightly better (+0.75). The next best moves are 7… Bg7 (+0.75) and 7… Qe7 (+0.98).
Is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.75: 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 Benoni Defense: Classical Variation?
A70. 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+).