Chessy
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order
After 1.d4 c5 2.d5 Nf6 3.Nf3, you reach a sharp Benoni structure with Black to move and White already a little better according to the engine. That makes this a great drill position: you do not need to memorise a long line, but you do need to know what Black is aiming for and which replies are most likely. Use the exercise below to test whether you can keep the initiative and punish the most common plans.
Play the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order against the engine
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Play the drill below and see if you can handle Black’s best practical ideas. Create a free account to keep training this opening.
Create a free account →Why this position matters
Stockfish rates this +0.37, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly better here. The position is still very playable, but White has a useful central space advantage and Black must choose a good plan quickly. In practice, this is exactly the kind of middlegame where understanding plans matters more than memorising moves.
The move Black wants most
The engine’s best move here is b5, and the listed continuation is b5 c4 b4 Nbd2. That tells you the main practical idea: Black tries to expand on the queenside and change the shape of the position immediately. As White, you should be ready to meet that plan without letting Black make progress for free. In the drill, pay attention to whether you can keep your central edge while Black pushes on the flank.
What the database says
In 116,746 games from this exact position, White wins 49.2%, draws 3.4%, and Black wins 47.4%. The practical picture is close, but White scores just a bit better overall. That fits the engine’s small edge and suggests that this is a position where accurate play matters for both sides. It is not a forced win, but it is a position where White can be comfortable if the plan is handled well.
The replies Black chooses most often
The most-played continuations are d6 (43,248 games, White scores 47.9%), e6 (34,589 games, White scores 48.8%), g6 (11,154 games, White scores 45.8%), b5 (10,222 games, White scores 47.8%), c4 (5,166 games, White scores 55.2%), and b6 (4,406 games, White scores 54.6%). The key takeaway is that Black has several natural setups, but none of them removes White’s practical chances. For your drill, the important habit is to stay alert to the structure Black is building and to keep your pieces active while the queenside tension develops.
Common mistakes to punish
Three moves are singled out as inaccuracies. d6 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; c4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; b6 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns. In each case, the better move was b5. That is a useful pattern to remember: if Black drifts into a slower setup, White’s small edge becomes easier to keep and use. The drill is especially good for learning how to recognise when Black has chosen a less accurate plan.
Results across 116,746 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d6 | 43,248 | 47.9% |
| e6 | 34,589 | 48.8% |
| g6 | 11,154 | 45.8% |
| b5 | 10,222 | 47.8% |
| c4 | 5,166 | 55.2% |
| b6 | 4,406 | 54.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order good for White?
In this position, White has a small edge. Stockfish gives +0.37, and the database also shows White scoring slightly better overall. That does not mean the game is over, but it does mean White can be the more comfortable side with accurate play.
What is Black’s best move in this position?
The engine’s best move is b5. The suggested continuation is b5 c4 b4 Nbd2, which shows Black trying to gain space on the queenside. In the drill, watch for that plan and see whether you can respond cleanly.
Which replies does Black choose most often?
The most common continuations are d6, e6, g6, b5, c4, and b6. The first two are especially popular by game count, while the others also appear frequently. Your task is to understand the plans behind them rather than memorise a long move tree.
Which Black moves are marked as mistakes here?
d6, c4, and b6 are all listed as inaccuracies. Each one is said to lose a fraction of a pawn, and in all three cases b5 was the better move. That makes this a useful position for learning what Black should and should not aim for.
How many games feature the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order?
Over 116K Lichess games have reached the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order position. White wins 49.2%, Black wins 47.4%, with 3.4% draws — based on real rated games.