ECO A43Opening for White
Old Benoni Defense
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Old Benoni Defense
Move1 / 19
1. d4Your move
Occupy the centre with the d-pawn.
💡 Occupy the centre.
The main line, move by move
Every move is explained: play through them in order to understand the opening’s logic.
- 1. d4Occupy the centre with the d-pawn.
- 1… c5The Old Benoni: Black strikes at the centre from the flank.
- 2. d5Advance and lock: the d5 pawn wedge grants the space.
- 2… d6Black supports a future kingside push.
- 3. e4Build a big pawn centre.
- 3… g6Black prepares a King’s-Indian fianchetto.
- 4. Nc3Develop and reinforce the centre.
- 4… Bg7Black places the bishop on the long diagonal.
Main variations
Czech Benoni (2…e5)
ECO A43Black closes the centre with 2…e5; prepare the f4 break with more space.
Modern Benoni transposition (2…e6)
ECO A43Black challenges d5 with 2…e6; open the e-file and keep the d5 wedge.
Move order 2…Nf6
ECO A43Black starts with 2…Nf6; steer back into the usual big-centre setup, conceding nothing.
Results by rating level
Win-rate statistics will appear here once Lichess data has been fetched.