ECO A65 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Bg5

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5

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

7… a6+0.32

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Bg5 (A65), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… a6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.32).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.327… a6 8. a4 e6 9. Bd3 exd5 10. cxd5 Nbd7 11. Nge2 Ne5 12. O-O
  2. +0.407… e6 8. Qd2 exd5 9. cxd5 a6 10. h4 b5 11. h5 Nbd7 12. Be2
  3. +0.447… Qa5 8. Bd3 b5 9. cxb5 a6 10. a4 e6 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Qd2

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Bg5
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Qd2 exd5 9. exd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Bg5?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… a6 for Black, continuing 8. a4 e6 9. Bd3 exd5 10. cxd5 Nbd7 11. Nge2 Ne5 12. O-O. White is slightly better (+0.32). The next best moves are 7… e6 (+0.40) and 7… Qa5 (+0.44).
Is the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Bg5 a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.32: 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, with Bg5?
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+).