Indian · a defense for Black

Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Full Line

19/19
1.d4Nf62.c4c53.d5e64.Nc3exd55.cxd5d66.e4g67.Nf3Bg78.Be2O-O9.O-Oa610.a4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Full Line29k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
38%11k49%
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Argentine Counterattack33%9.5k51%
18%5.3k45%
3.4%99344%
2.1%59547%
2.1%59440%
0.7%19437%
0.6%16540%
0.5%15145%
0.4%12161%
Famous games in this line359 master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2765) – Illescas Cordoba, Miguel (2635)19971–0Anand, Viswanathan (2794) – Hernandez, Gilberto (2567)20011–0Le, Quang Liem (2729) – Jobava, Ba (2577)2025½–½Kozul, Zdenko (2593) – Gashimov, Vugar (2703)2008½–½Van Wely, Loek (2653) – Giri, Anish (2642)20101–0Portisch, Lajos (2620) – Kasparov, Garry (2630)1981½–½Taimanov, Mark E (2600) – Stein, Leonid (2605)19710–1Beliavsky, Alexander G (2635) – Romanishin, Oleg M (2570)19851–0
Heroes of this opening Anand, Viswanathan · Van Wely, Loek · Stein, Leonid · Beliavsky, Alexander G
Family
Benoni Defense
Category
Indian
First move
1.d4
ECO
A74
Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. a4
Sharp
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Nearby lines in the family
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense, Tal Line9…Re8 10.Nd2Benoni Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Main Line7.f4 Bg7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.Be2 Re8Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense9…Re8
From the archives

The name comes from Aaron Reinganum's 1825 book 'Ben-Oni' — Hebrew for 'son of sorrow'. Reinganum's own words give the reason: he sat over a chessboard whenever he wanted to take refuge from melancholy. Tal made the Modern Benoni a terror in the 1950s and 60s: give up the centre, then let every piece point at White's queenside like an accusation.

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