A43 · Semi-Closed · a defense for Black
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Schmid Variation
6/6
1.d4c52.d5d63.Nc3g6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Schmid Variation53k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
78%41k54%
8.1%4.3k52%
5.8%3.1k50%
2.8%1.5k48%
1.4%75448%
1.3%67555%
0.5%25843%
0.5%24948%
0.4%22950%
0.4%21643%
Famous games in this line53 master games
Melkumyan, H. (2625) – Hovhannisyan, R. (2592)Ovetchkin, Roman (2543) – Postny, Evgeny (2609)Balashov, Yuri S (2600) – Velimirovic, Dragoljub (2515)Winants, Luc (2535) – Minasian, Artashes (2574)Rashkovsky, Nukhim N (2500) – Balashov, Yuri S (2600)Sosonko, Gennadi (2450) – Larsen, Bent (2630)Melkumyan, Hrant (2614) – Stukopin, Andrey (2458)Malaniuk, Vladimir P (2455) – Markowski, Tomasz (2611)Heroes of this opening Hovhannisyan, R. · Ovetchkin, Roman · Minasian, Artashes · Larsen, Bent
- Family
- Benoni Defense
- Category
- Semi-Closed
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- A43
- Line
- 1. d4 c5 2. d5 d6 3. Nc3 g6
FianchettoSharp
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From the archives
The name comes from Aaron Reinganum's 1825 book 'Ben-Oni' — Hebrew for 'son of my sorrow,' reportedly written to distract himself from melancholy. Tal made the Modern Benoni a terror in the 1960s: give up the center, then let every piece point at White's queenside like an accusation.
Study this opening