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1.Opening

Modern Benoni

You play BlackA70SharpAdvanced

Black accepts less space for a queenside pawn majority and dynamic piece play.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 …

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Classical Variation: position after 9 moves1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a
Classical Variation: position after 9 moves
2.Ideas

What the opening is about

Key ideas

  1. Black has a queenside majority (...b5!), White has a central one (e5!).
  2. The g7 bishop is very strong on the long diagonal.
  3. ...Re8 pressures e4 and slows down e4–e5.
3.Main line

Main line · 18 moves

Classical Variation

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Your moves Opponent
No. White Black1
d4White claims the center.
Nf6Flexible: develops, stops e4 for now, and keeps Black's pawn choices open — the start of every "Indian" defense.
2
c4White gains queenside space and adds control of d5.
c5The Benoni: challenges d4 immediately.
3
d5White gains space instead of trading.
e6Undermines the d5 pawn.
After 3…e6
After 3…e6
No. White Black4
Nc3Defends d5.
exd5Black trades, opening the e-file.
5
cxd5White recaptures. Now White has a central majority, Black a queenside majority.
d6Stops d5–d6 and opens the c8 bishop.
6
e4White builds a big center, eyeing a later e4–e5 break.
g6Prepares ...Bg7.
After 6…g6
After 6…g6
No. White Black7
Nf3Develops and supports e5.
Bg7The Benoni bishop on the long diagonal — often Black's best piece.
8
Be2Prepares to castle.
O-OBlack castles.
9
O-OWhite castles.
Re8The rook pressures e4 and makes e4–e5 harder to play.
After 9…Re8
After 9…Re8
4.Play

Practice mode

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5.More

More defenses against 1.d4