ECO A43 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Mujannah Formation

1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5

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

3. Nc3+1.13

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Mujannah Formation (A43), reached after 1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.13).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.133. Nc3 Nf6 4. e4 fxe4 5. Nge2 d6 6. Ng3 g6 7. h4 Bg7
  2. +1.133. e4 fxe4 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nge2 d6 6. Ng3 g6 7. h4 Bg7
  3. +1.043. h4 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e4 fxe4 6. Nh3 Bd6 7. Bg5 Be5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Mujannah Formation?
After 1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White, continuing Nf6 4. e4 fxe4 5. Nge2 d6 6. Ng3 g6 7. h4 Bg7. White is clearly better (+1.13). The next best moves are 3. e4 (+1.13) and 3. h4 (+1.04).
Is the Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Mujannah Formation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.13: 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: Old Benoni, Mujannah Formation?
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+).