Tree path 4 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Indian Defense › Normal Variation › Benoni Defense
- Chess Codex
- Queen's Pawn Game A40
- Indian Defense A45
- Normal Variation A50
- Benoni Defense A56 you are here
Benoni Defense
Overview
Benoni Defense is a specific line in the Flank Openings family (ECO A56), arising from a recognised theoretical position.
The Flank Openings group covers flank openings — systems that delay the central pawn break and instead develop pieces and pawns on the wings.
It is reached after 4 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5.
The line refines Indian Defense: Normal Variation, which traces back to the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.
The line has 7 documented children — Benko Gambit, Czech Benoni Defense, Hromádka System, and others being widely played.
Below the direct variations, the full subtree contains 48 documented sub-variations.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- A56
- Group
- Flank Openings (A)
- Plies
- 4
- Direct variations
- 7
- Total in subtree
- 48
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. A more detailed, human-written description is on the way — and you can speed it up by suggesting one yourself.
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Variations (7)
Show all 48 sub-variations (full subtree)
- A57 Benko Gambit 6-ply
- A56 Czech Benoni Defense 6-ply
- A56 Hromádka System 6-ply
- A60 Modern Variation 6-ply
- A56 Weenink Variation 6-ply
- A56 Grünfeld Defense: Three Knights Variation, Burille Variation, Reversed Tarrasch 16-ply
- A56 Vulture Defense 6-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit Accepted 8-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit Declined: Bishop Attack 7-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit Declined: Hjørring Countergambit 7-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit Declined: Main Line 7-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit Declined: Pseudo-Sämisch 7-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit Declined: Quiet Line 7-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit Declined: Sosonko Variation 7-ply
- A57 Mutkin Countergambit 7-ply
- A56 Benoni Defense: King's Indian System 10-ply
- A65 Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line 11-ply
- A60 Snake Variation 10-ply
- A57 Dlugy Variation 9-ply
- A58 Fully Accepted Variation 9-ply
- A57 Modern Variation 9-ply
- A57 Pawn Return Variation 9-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit: Zaitsev System 9-ply
- A72 Benoni Defense: Classical Variation 16-ply
- A65 Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line 14-ply
- A66 Benoni Defense: Pawn Storm Variation 13-ply
- A59 Benko Gambit 17-ply
- A58 Benko Gambit Accepted: Central Storming Variation 13-ply
- A58 Benko Gambit Accepted: Fianchetto Variation 17-ply
- A59 Benko Gambit Accepted: King Walk Variation 21-ply
- A59 Benko Gambit Accepted: Yugoslav 13-ply
- A59 Benko Gambit Accepted: Yugoslav 17-ply
- A58 Benko Gambit: Fianchetto Variation 15-ply
- A58 Benko Gambit: Nd2 Variation 15-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit: Zaitsev Variation, Nescafe Frappe Attack 13-ply
- A73 Main Line 17-ply
- A68 Benoni Defense: Four Pawns Attack 16-ply
- A65 with Be3 15-ply
- A65 with Bg5 15-ply
- A65 with Nge2 15-ply
- A66 Benoni Defense: Mikenas Variation 15-ply
- A67 Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation 15-ply
- A57 Benko Gambit: Nescafe Frappe Attack 15-ply
- A76 Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense 18-ply
- A74 Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Full Line 19-ply
- A69 Main Line 18-ply
- A77 Tal Line 19-ply
- A79 Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense 21-ply