ECO A65 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Nge2

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Nge2

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

8… Nbd7+0.31

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Nge2 (A65), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Nge2, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… Nbd7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.31).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.318… Nbd7 9. a4 a6 10. Ng3 h5 11. Be2 Nh7 12. Nf1 O-O 13. Ne3
  2. +0.328… a6 9. a4 Nbd7 10. Ng3 h5 11. Be2 Nh7 12. Nf1 O-O 13. Ne3
  3. +0.448… Qe7 9. Bg5 a6 10. a4 h6 11. Be3 Nbd7 12. Ng3 h5 13. Be2

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Ng3 exd5 9. cxd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Nge2?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f3 Bg7 8. Nge2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… Nbd7 for Black, continuing 9. a4 a6 10. Ng3 h5 11. Be2 Nh7 12. Nf1 O-O 13. Ne3. White is slightly better (+0.31). The next best moves are 8… a6 (+0.32) and 8… Qe7 (+0.44).
Is the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, with Nge2 a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.31: 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 Nge2?
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+).