Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
142,102 games: White 47.0% / Draw 5.3% / Black 47.7%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Benoni Defense: Classical Variation | 121,485121K | |
| 11,22911K | ||
| 7,0597,059 | ||
| 1,1321,132 | ||
| 274274 | ||
| 232232 | ||
| 183183 | ||
| 123123 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.52 White is slightly better
Best play: 8... Bg4 9. Bf4 O-O 10. O-O a6 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Re8 13. Qd2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation (ECO A70, 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. Be2 (8 moves).
In 142,102 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.0%, Black 47.7% and 5.3% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…O-O, in 85% of those games.
It branches into 2 named variations; the most played are Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Argentine Counterattack and Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense.
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How to play against the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation
The most played answer, 8…O-O (Benoni Defense: Classical Variation), also scores best for Black: 50.5%, with Black winning 47.9% and White 46.8% of 121K games. Of the main answers, 8…Bg4 scores lowest: 50.2%. Stockfish's first choice is 8…Bg4.
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
Variations (2)
Transpositions
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation (A70)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/benoni-defense-classical-variation-traditional-variation