Benoni Defense: Classical Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4
What Is The Classical Variation?
The Classical Variation is White's most principled answer to the Modern Benoni: occupy the center with e4, develop with Nf3 and Be2, and let the space advantage work. Black concedes space for a permanent imbalance, a queenside pawn majority facing White's central one. Every Classical Benoni game is a race between White's e4-e5 break and Black's b7-b5 break, and the side that lands its break first sets the terms of the fight.
Play for your break, not against your opponent's pieces. As Black, put a rook on e8 to tie White to e4, then prepare ...a6 and ...b5. As White, play h3 to stop ...Bg4, reroute a knight to c4 against the weak d6 pawn, and only then push e5. Careless central exchanges hand the g7 bishop the game.
The Named Lines Of The Classical Variation
| Line | Moves |
|---|---|
| New York Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.h3 |
| Traditional Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 |
| Averbakh-Grivas Attack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Bg5 |
| Main Line | 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 |
| Czerniak Defense | 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 |
| Full Line | 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 a6 10.a4 |
| Czerniak Defense, Tal Line | 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 |
| Argentine Counterattack | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O a6 10.a4 Bg4 |