Caissa Codex
A72

Benoni Defense: Classical Variation 8. Be2 O-O

Chess diagram: Benoni Defense: Classical Variation after 8…O-O

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

123,917 games: White 46.9% / Draw 5.3% / Black 47.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
Main Line 101,598102K
8,2088,208
4,2764,276
3,6613,661
2,7592,759
1,8371,837
503503
483483

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 6, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.60 White is slightly better

Best play: 9. Nd2 Na6 10. a4 Re8 11. O-O Nc7 12. f3 b6 13. Kh1 Qe7

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Benoni Defense: Classical Variation (ECO A72, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line, reached after 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 (8 moves).

In 123,917 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.9%, Black 47.9% and 5.3% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. O-O, in 82% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line. In all, 5 named lines continue from it.

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How to answer 8…O-O

9. Nd2 scores best for White: 53.4%, with White winning 50.8% and Black 44.0% of 8,208 games. The most played answer, 9. O-O, scores lowest: 49.1% in 102K games. Stockfish's first choice is also 9. Nd2.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 6…g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O, the position after Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line also goes on to:

Transpositions

This position is also reached from these lines, by another move order:

All 5 named lines that continue from here

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Benoni Defense: Classical Variation (A72)”. Lichess data as of 6 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/benoni-defense-classical-variation-2

https://chesscodex.org/openings/benoni-defense-classical-variation-2