Semi-Closed · a defense for Black
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni
4/4
1.d4c52.d5d6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni3.7M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
68%2.5M51%
18%661k51%
7.3%270k54%
3.9%143k51%
1%38k48%
0.7%24k53%
0.6%22k52%
0.3%9.6k48%
0.1%5.2k49%
0.1%4.2k49%
Famous games in this line834 master games
Wang, Yue (2716) – Malakhov, Vladimir (2732)Ni, Hua (2645) – Malakhov, Vladimir (2732)Moiseenko, Alexander (2711) – Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2659)Bacrot, Etienne (2713) – Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2642)Akopian, Vladimir (2678) – Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2642)Moiseenko, Alexander (2677) – Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2642)Riazantsev, Alexander (2710) – Markowski, Tomasz (2606)Khairullin, Ildar (2637) – Zvjaginsev, Vadim (2676)Heroes of this opening Moiseenko, Alexander · Zvjaginsev, Vadim · Riazantsev, Alexander · Khairullin, Ildar
- Family
- Benoni Defense
- Category
- Semi-Closed
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- A43
- Line
- 1. d4 c5 2. d5 d6
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.
Study this opening