A44 · Semi-Closed · a defense for Black
Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni
6/6
1.d4c52.d5e53.e4d6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni229k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
40%92k48%
20%46k53%
12%28k47%
8%18k52%
7.9%18k52%
2.7%6.2k54%
1.6%3.6k47%
1.1%2.5k52%
1%2.3k45%
0.9%2.1k57%
Famous games in this line1.6k master games
Aronian, L. (2767) – Caruana, F. (2822)Dubov, Daniil (2720) – Ponkratov, P. (2641)Sokolov, Ivan (2670) – Morozevich, Alexander (2610)Hertneck, Gerald (2605) – Jussupow, Artur (2655)Sakaev, Konstantin (2648) – Bezgodov, Alexei (2576)Wang Hao (2713) – Liu Qingnan (2510)Peralta, Fernando (2574) – Granda Zuniga, Julio E (2646)Ding Liren (2717) – Liu Qingnan (2501)Heroes of this opening Aronian, L. · Dubov, Daniil · Hertneck, Gerald · Sakaev, Konstantin
- Family
- Benoni Defense
- Category
- Semi-Closed
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- A44
- Line
- 1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. e4 d6
Sharp
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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.
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