Benoni Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5

ECO A56

The Benoni Defense is a chess opening reached after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5, catalogued under code A56 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move c5 is chosen by Black on move 2.

27 named continuations branch from this position, including the Franco-Sicilian Hybrid and the Benoni Gambit Accepted.

Named variations

• Benoni Defense: Franco-Sicilian Hybrid — ECO A40
• Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Cormorant Gambit — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: French Benoni — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Old Benoni — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Snail Variation — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Woozle — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Zilbermints-Benoni Gambit — ECO A43
• Benoni Defense: Semi-Benoni — ECO A44
• Benoni Defense: Czech Benoni Defense — ECO A56
• Benoni Defense: Hromádka System — ECO A56
• Benoni Defense: King's Indian System — ECO A56
• Benoni Defense: Weenink Variation — ECO A56
• Benoni Defense: Modern Variation — ECO A60
• Benoni Defense: Fianchetto Variation — ECO A61
• Benoni Defense: Knight's Tour Variation — ECO A61
• Benoni Defense: Uhlmann Variation — ECO A61
• Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line — ECO A65
• Benoni Defense: Mikenas Variation — ECO A66
• Benoni Defense: Pawn Storm Variation — ECO A66
• Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation — ECO A67
• Benoni Defense: Four Pawns Attack — ECO A68
• Benoni Defense: Classical Variation — ECO A70

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Benko Gambit course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.