Caissa Codex
A71

Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack

Chess diagram: Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack after 8. Bg5

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

129,246 games: White 43.8% / Draw 4.3% / Black 51.9%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
87,54288K
13,57614K
12,16612K
6,5636,563
5,3335,333
1,6691,669
1,4361,436
314314

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.44 White is slightly better

Best play: 8... a6 9. h3 b5 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. a3 h6 12. Bf4 Qe7 13. O-O

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

Overview

Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack (ECO A71, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Bg5 (8 moves).

In 129,246 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 43.8%, Black 51.9% and 4.3% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…O-O, in 68% of those games.

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How to play against the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack

8…a6 scores best for Black: 55.9%, with Black winning 53.9% and White 42.1% of 6,563 games. The most played, 8…O-O, scores 54.5% in 88K games, and 8…Bg4 scores lowest: 51.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8…a6.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 7…Bg7 8. Bg5, the position after Benoni Defense: Classical Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack (A71)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/benoni-defense-classical-variation-averbakh-grivas-attack

https://chesscodex.org/openings/benoni-defense-classical-variation-averbakh-grivas-attack