ECO A66 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Pawn Storm Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4

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

7… Bg7+0.70

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Pawn Storm Variation (A66), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Bg7 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.70).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.707… Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nfd7 9. a4 Na6 10. Nf3 Nb4 11. O-O a6 12. Be2
  2. +0.787… Bh6 8. Bb5+ Nbd7 9. Nf3 a6 10. Bd3 O-O 11. a4 c4 12. Bc2
  3. +0.807… Bg4 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. O-O a6 11. a4 Rc8 12. h3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Pawn Storm Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Bg7 for Black, continuing 8. Bb5+ Nfd7 9. a4 Na6 10. Nf3 Nb4 11. O-O a6 12. Be2. White is slightly better (+0.70). The next best moves are 7… Bh6 (+0.78) and 7… Bg4 (+0.80).
Is the Benoni Defense: Pawn Storm Variation 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: Pawn Storm Variation?
A66. 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+).