ECO A43 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation

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

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

4. e4+0.99

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation (A43), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 c4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. e4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.99).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.994. e4 Nxe4 5. Bxc4 g6 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 Nf6 8. h3 Bg7
  2. +0.934. Nc3 b5 5. e4 Qa5 6. a4 b4 7. Nb5 a6 8. Nbd4 Qc7
  3. +0.874. Qd4 Qa5+ 5. Nc3 b5 6. e4 e6 7. Bd2 b4 8. Qxc4 Ba6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 c4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. e4 for White, continuing Nxe4 5. Bxc4 g6 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 Nf6 8. h3 Bg7. White is clearly better (+0.99). The next best moves are 4. Nc3 (+0.93) and 4. Qd4 (+0.87).
Is the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.99: 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: Hawk Variation?
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+).