Caissa Codex
E74

King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation

Chess diagram: King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation after 7. dxc5

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Statistics from Lichess

6,789 games: White 47.5% / Draw 8.7% / Black 43.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
3,7333,733
2,9952,995
2121
1717
44
44
33
33

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 25, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.02 The position is about equal

Best play: 7... dxc5 8. e5 Nfd7 9. f4 f6 10. Qd5+ e6 11. Qxe6+ Kh8 12. exf6

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

Overview

King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation (ECO E74, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. dxc5 (7 moves).

In 6,789 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.5%, Black 43.8% and 8.7% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 7…dxc5, in 55% of those games.

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How to play against the King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation

7…Qa5 scores best for Black: 48.8%, with Black winning 44.8% and White 47.3% of 2,995 games. The most played answer, 7…dxc5, scores lowest: 47.7% in 3,733 games. Stockfish's first choice is 7…dxc5.

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. dxc5, the position after King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation (E74)”. Lichess data as of 25 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-indian-defense-averbakh-variation-benoni-defense-exchange-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-indian-defense-averbakh-variation-benoni-defense-exchange-variation