ECO A43 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Snail Variation

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Na6

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

3. c4+0.92

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Snail Variation (A43), reached after 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Na6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. c4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.92).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.923. c4 g6 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 Bg7 6. Nc3 e6 7. h4 h6
  2. +0.903. e4 d6 4. c4 g6 5. Be2 Bg7 6. Nc3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nf6
  3. +0.813. Nc3 d6 4. e4 Nc7 5. f4 Nf6 6. Bd3 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Snail Variation?
After 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Na6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. c4 for White, continuing g6 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 Bg7 6. Nc3 e6 7. h4 h6. White is clearly better (+0.92). The next best moves are 3. e4 (+0.90) and 3. Nc3 (+0.81).
Is the Benoni Defense: Snail Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.92: 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: Snail Variation?
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+).