ECO A43 · Benoni Defense

Benoni Defense: Woozle

1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 Qa5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. Bd2+0.96

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Benoni Defense: Woozle (A43), reached after 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Bd2 for White. White is clearly better (+0.96).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.964. Bd2 d6 5. e4 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. g4 h6 8. a4 Qb4
  2. +0.714. a3 g6 5. Bd2 Bg7 6. h4 d6 7. e4 h5 8. Nf3 Bg4
  3. +0.544. e3 Ne4 5. Qd3 Nxc3 6. Bd2 b5 7. Ne2 b4 8. bxc3 e6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Benoni Defense: Woozle?
After 1. d4 c5 2. d5 Nf6 3. Nc3 Qa5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Bd2 for White, continuing d6 5. e4 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. g4 h6 8. a4 Qb4. White is clearly better (+0.96). The next best moves are 4. a3 (+0.71) and 4. e3 (+0.54).
Is the Benoni Defense: Woozle a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.96: 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: Woozle?
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+).