Chess opening · ECO A56
Benoni Defense
On move two, the Benoni hits d4 with the c-pawn. White usually answers 3.d5, grabbing space, and the game takes on a lopsided pawn structure. Black gets a queenside majority and a bishop on the long diagonal, while White gets extra central pawns and room to push them. Both sides have clear pawn breaks, and the play revolves around them.
- Rank by weighted share
- #100 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5
- 2... c5The c5 pawn challenges d4 directly. White must decide between trading on c5, defending with e3 or Nf3, or advancing to d5. The advance gains space but releases the tension, so Black can build around the d5 pawn with ...e6 or hit c4 with ...b5.
Two majorities, two breaks
Once Black trades with ...e6 and ...exd5 and White recaptures with the c-pawn, Black has three queenside pawns against two. White has the extra pawn in the center, with pawns on d5 and e4 against Black's lone d6.
Black wants to roll the queenside majority with ...a6 and ...b5. White wants to push e4-e5, often with f4 first, to open lines toward the black king and free the d5 pawn.
Where Black's pieces stand
The dark-squared bishop goes to g7, aiming along the diagonal toward b2. A rook on e8 presses down the half-open e-file at e4, and a knight can head for e5 if White allows it.
The closed version with ...e5
Black can instead meet d5 with ...e5, locking the center. That trades the open e-file for a blocked position where Black plans ...f5 and slow kingside play, and White looks for a b4 break on the other wing.
Reaching the Modern Benoni
3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6
This is the main structure. White's pawns on d5 and e4 cramp Black in the center, while Black's c5 pawn and the coming ...Bg7 set up pressure on the queenside and along the diagonal.
Top replies by rating
The d5 advance leads every band and its share grows with rating. Below 1800, e3 holds second place, and Nf3 takes over that spot from 1800 up.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | d5 50% | e3 19% | dxc5 12% |
| 1400–1599 | d5 60% | e3 14% | Nf3 12% |
| 1600–1799 | d5 64% | e3 12% | Nf3 11% |
| 1800–1999 | d5 66% | Nf3 14% | e3 11% |
| 2000 and up | d5 75% | Nf3 14% | e3 7% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.