Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
8,812 games: White 52.7% / Draw 4.8% / Black 42.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 7,3917,391 | ||
| 841841 | ||
| 441441 | ||
| 6262 | ||
| 2525 | ||
| 1515 | ||
| 1414 | ||
| 77 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.54 White is clearly better
Best play: 3... fxe4 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nge2 d6 6. Nf4 g6 7. Bb5+ Kf7 8. h4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit (ECO A43, Flank Openings) is a gambit in the Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Mujannah Formation, reached after 1. d4 c5 2. d5 f5 3. e4 (3 moves).
In 8,812 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 52.7%, Black 42.5% and 4.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 3…fxe4, in 84% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit
The most played answer, 3…fxe4, also scores best for Black: 46.1%, with Black winning 43.7% and White 51.5% of 7,391 games. Of the main answers, 3…Nf6 scores lowest: 35.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 3…fxe4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit (A43)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/benoni-defense-benoni-staunton-gambit