Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense 10…Na6 11. f3
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Statistics from Lichess
3,802 games: White 51.3% / Draw 5.9% / Black 42.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 3,2823,282 | ||
| 221221 | ||
| 122122 | ||
| 6161 | ||
| 5555 | ||
| 2525 | ||
| 1010 | ||
| 1010 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 3, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.73 White is better
Best play: 11... Nc7 12. a4 b6 13. Kh1 Rb8 14. Nc4 Ba6 15. Bd3 h6 16. Qd2
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 A79, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense, Tal 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 10. Nd2 Na6 11. f3 (11 moves).
In 3,802 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.3%, Black 42.8% and 5.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 11…Nc7, in 86% of those games.
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How to answer 11. f3
The most played answer, 11…Nc7, also scores best for Black: 46.8%, with Black winning 43.7% and White 50.2% of 3,282 games. Of the main answers, 11…Rb8 scores lowest: 40.5%. Stockfish's first choice is also 11…Nc7.
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
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense (A79)”. Lichess data as of 3 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/benoni-defense-classical-variation-czerniak-defense-3