ECO A65 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line

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

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

6… g6+0.70

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line (A65), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… g6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.70).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.706… g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nfd7 9. Be2 Qh4+ 10. g3 Qd8 11. Nh3
  2. +0.996… Nbd7 7. Nf3 a6 8. a4 Ne5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Be2 Bd7 11. Be3
  3. +1.026… Qe7 7. Nf3 g6 8. Bb5+ Nbd7 9. O-O Bg7 10. e5 dxe5 11. d6

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f3 Bg7
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 Bg7 6. Nc3 e6 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 exd5 9. cxd5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… g6 for Black, continuing 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nfd7 9. Be2 Qh4+ 10. g3 Qd8 11. Nh3. White is slightly better (+0.70). The next best moves are 6… Nbd7 (+0.99) and 6… Qe7 (+1.02).
Is the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.70: 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: King's Pawn Line?
A65. 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+).