Indian · a defense for Black
Benoni Defense: Mikenas Variation
15/15
1.d4Nf62.c4c53.d5e64.Nc3exd55.cxd5d66.e4g67.f4Bg78.e5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Benoni Defense: Mikenas Variation14k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
65%9.2k38%
20%2.9k47%
6%84843%
3%42739%
2.7%38650%
1.8%25329%
0.6%9243%
0.3%4825%
0%520%
0%560%
Famous games in this line100 master games
Wirig, Anthony (2479) – Gashimov, Vugar (2665)Nogueiras Santiago, Jesus (2555) – Gruenfeld, Yehuda (2545)Jojua, Davit (2548) – Khotenashvili, Bela (2531)Inkiov, Ventzislav (2485) – Hamdouchi, Hicham (2592)Nakamura, Hikaru (2494) – De Firmian, Nick E (2551)Feller, Sebastien (2570) – Marzolo, Cyril (2465)Jankovic, Alojzije (2525) – Simacek, Pavel (2500)Vukovic, Milosav (2405) – Petrosian, Tigran V (2615)Heroes of this opening Gashimov, Vugar · Inkiov, Ventzislav · Nakamura, Hikaru · Feller, Sebastien
- Family
- Benoni Defense
- Category
- Indian
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- A66
- Line
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. e5
Sharp
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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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