Openings 1.d4 Nf6: Indian defenses

Modern and Old Benoni: Lines, Plans and Stats by Rating

The Benoni gives White a space advantage on purpose. After 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 Black has a queenside pawn majority and a fianchettoed bishop, while White has the central majority and plays for e4–e5. Both sides know what they want, which makes for sharp games.

For Black1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6Seen in <0.1% of rated games

Lichess rating

A60Benoni Defense: Modern Variation

Games from this position (1600–1999): 3,007

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
74%	2,215	49%47%
12%	371	41%56%
12%	366	52%45%
1%	34	44%50%
0.4%	11	55%45%
0.3%	10	60%40%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

e4, Nf3, Be2 and O-O is the Classical setup; a4 and Nd2–c4 then hold back ...b5.
f4 with Bb5+ (the Taimanov line) aims for a fast e5 and is the most dangerous try.
The e5 break is the main plan, and the d6 pawn is a long-term target.

Black

...g6, ...Bg7, ...O-O and ...Re8 put pressure on e4.
The ...b5 break is your counterplay: prepare it with ...a6 and ...Nbd7 or ...Rb8.
Against 1.d4 c5 2.d5, the Old Benoni with ...d6 and ...e5 gives a slower, closed game.

Benoni Defense at each rating

How often the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	42<0.1%	57%43%	6.e483%
1200–1599	598<0.1%	53%43%	6.e469%
1600–1999	3,007<0.1%	49%48%	6.e474%
2000+	3,5740.2%	50%45%	6.e473%
All	7,221<0.1%	50%46%	6.e473%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

White develops calmly and castles; Black plays ...Re8, ...Na6, or ...a6 and ...b5.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O
The check disrupts Black’s development before e5. About nine in ten at 2000+ answer 8...Nfd7.
253 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 5% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Bb5+
Black closes the center with ...e5; play is slow and moves to the wings.
437 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 47%, 6% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 Be7
Black plays ...c5 on move one; after 2.d5 the ...d6 and ...e5 setup gives a closed game.
2,636 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 5% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.c4 e5
White takes the pawn; Black wins it back with ...Bxc5 after ...e6, or with ...Qa5+.
9,243 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 45%, 4% were drawn, Black won 51%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 c5 2.dxc5 e6

At club level

After 2...c5 3.d5, about half the players at 1600 and up choose 3...b5 (the Benko) and about a quarter 3...e6 (the Modern Benoni). Against 1.d4 c5, players below 1200 take on c5 far more often than they push d5 (37% against 13%), and at 1600 to 1999 Black does well after 2.dxc5, with White at only about 48%.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as Black Practice as White

Related openings

Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6
1.d4 Nf6
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