ECO A70 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation

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

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

8… Bg4+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation (A70), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Be2, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Bg4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.558… Bg4 9. O-O O-O 10. Bf4 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Qe7 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. Rfe1
  2. +0.698… O-O 9. Nd2 Re8 10. O-O b6 11. h3 Ba6 12. Re1 Bxe2 13. Qxe2
  3. +0.728… a6 9. a4 Bg4 10. Nd2 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 O-O 12. Nc4 Nbd7 13. Nxd6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Be2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Bg4 for Black, continuing 9. O-O O-O 10. Bf4 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Qe7 12. Qb3 Nbd7 13. Rfe1. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 8… O-O (+0.69) and 8… a6 (+0.72).
Is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.55: 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, Traditional 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+).