Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense
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Statistics from Lichess
63,167 games: White 47.3% / Draw 4.8% / Black 47.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Tal Line | 28,00728K | |
| 22,31122K | ||
| 4,6714,671 | ||
| 4,5314,531 | ||
| 1,1361,136 | ||
| 786786 | ||
| 496496 | ||
| 321321 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 6, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.74 White is better
Best play: 10. Nd2 Na6 11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 b6 13. Kh1 Qe7 14. Nc4 Ba6
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense (ECO A76, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Main 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 9. O-O Re8 (9 moves).
In 63,167 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.3%, Black 47.9% and 4.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. Nd2, in 44% of those games.
It continues into one named variation, Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense, Tal Line. In all, 2 named lines continue from it.
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: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense
The most played answer, 10. Nd2 (Tal Line), also scores best for White: 52.3%, with White winning 49.9% and Black 45.3% of 28K games. Of the main answers, 10. Bd3 scores lowest: 44.0%. Stockfish's first choice is also 10. 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)
All 2 named lines that continue from here
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense (A76)”. Lichess data as of 6 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/benoni-defense-classical-variation-czerniak-defense