Chess opening · ECO A43
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni
The Benoni Defense: Old Benoni starts 1. d4 c5. It ranks #53 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. d4White pushes the d-pawn two squares to d4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... c5Black pushes the c-pawn two squares to c5.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. Among players rated under 1200, the most popular next move is dxc5; among players rated 2000 and up, it is d5.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | dxc5 31% | d5 22% | e3 16% |
| 1200–1399 | dxc5 33% | d5 22% | e3 10% |
| 1400–1599 | d5 30% | dxc5 28% | e3 10% |
| 1600–1799 | d5 41% | dxc5 22% | Nf3 10% |
| 1800–1999 | d5 46% | dxc5 15% | e3 15% |
| 2000 and up | d5 54% | e3 15% | Nf3 10% |
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