ECO A60 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6

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

6. Nf3+0.91

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation (A60), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Nf3 for White. White is clearly better (+0.91).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.916. Nf3 O-O 7. e4 Re8 8. Bd3 Bc7 9. O-O d6 10. h3 Nbd7
  2. +0.896. e4 O-O 7. Nf3 Re8 8. Bd3 Bc7 9. O-O d6 10. h3 Nbd7
  3. +0.696. Qc2 Be5 7. e4 O-O 8. Bd3 Na6 9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 c4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Nf3 for White, continuing O-O 7. e4 Re8 8. Bd3 Bc7 9. O-O d6 10. h3 Nbd7. White is clearly better (+0.91). The next best moves are 6. e4 (+0.89) and 6. Qc2 (+0.69).
Is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.91: 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: Modern Variation, Snake Variation?
A60. 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+).