Current position
Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System
1.d4 c5
The Benoni Defense starts with 1.d4 c5 and is catalogued under ECO A43, in the flank openings half of the book. The catalog indexes 61 lines inside it, grouped into 47 named variations, and the position after those moves has 1 playable continuation to walk from here.
Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Current setup
Move ideas
Takes central space with a protected pawn and frees the queen’s bishop.
Idea: Build a stable center that supports a broad positional setup.
Develops a knight and prevents White from occupying e4 unchallenged.
Idea: Keep the central pawns flexible and choose an Indian setup after White commits.
Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Advances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.
Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.
Advances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.
Captures the pawn on b5 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.
Idea: Open lines in the queenside and reshape the center for the next phase.
Advances the a-pawn to gain queenside edge space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Captures the pawn on b5 and changes the local pawn or piece balance.
Idea: Open lines in the queenside and reshape the center for the next phase.
Advances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.
Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.
Advances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
Each line below is an indexed entry under Benoni Defense. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
23 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.
ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Benoni Defense.