ECO A61 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Fianchetto Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g3

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7… Bg7+0.33

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Fianchetto Variation (A61), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g3, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Bg7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.337… Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 Na6 11. Nb5 Bf8 12. Rc1
  2. +0.457… Na6 8. Bf4 Bg7 9. Nd2 Nh5 10. Qa4+ Qd7 11. Qe4+ Kd8 12. Bg5+
  3. +0.477… a6 8. Bg2 Bg7 9. a4 O-O 10. O-O Re8 11. Bf4 Qc7 12. Qc1

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Fianchetto Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. g3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Bg7 for Black, continuing 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Bf4 Na6 11. Nb5 Bf8 12. Rc1. White is slightly better (+0.33). The next best moves are 7… Na6 (+0.45) and 7… a6 (+0.47).
Is the Benoni Defense: Fianchetto Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.33: 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: Fianchetto Variation?
A61. 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+).