Chessy
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense with Nc3 – Playing as Black
After 1.d4 c5 2.d5 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6, you've entered the Benoni-Indian Defense with Nc3. White now has several options, and the engine rates this position +0.75 — a clear edge for White. That means you are set for a tough but playable fight where Black scores an impressive 49.5% in practice. The interactive drill below lets you try out Black's best responses and see how the engine answers White's most popular moves. Step into the position and start practising your reply to e4, Bg5, Nf3, and more.
Play the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense: Nc3 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Start practicing your Black responses in the interactive board below.
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
The Benoni-Indian Defense is all about imbalance. By playing 3...g6, you signal that you're fianchettoing your king's bishop to challenge White's centre from the long diagonal. The early ...c5 break has already created a pawn tension that will shape the whole game. White's space advantage in the centre is real — the engine's +0.75 reflects that — but Black's practical results are surprisingly good. Across over 40,000 games, Black actually wins more often than White (49.5% to 47.4%), with only 3.0% draws. That winning percentage tells you this is a fighting opening where White's theoretical edge doesn't always translate into easy points.
The Engine's Top Choice: e4
Stockfish's best move is e4, and this is also by far the most popular in practice — played in 28,932 games in the database. After e4, Black's typical reply is d6 (to control e5 and prepare ...Bg7), then Nf3 and Bg7 follow naturally. White scores only 48.1% from this line, meaning Black holds up well despite the engine evaluation. The structure that emerges — White with pawns on d5 and e4, Black with ...d6 and ...c5 — gives Black clear targets on the queenside and a plan of ...b5 breaks later. Focus on completing development with ...Bg7, 0-0, and ...Nbd7 before trying to crack White's centre.
What the Statistics Reveal About White's Options
White has several reasonable moves here, and the database shows that Black actually scores better against most of them than against e4. Here's the full picture across over 40,000 games: - Bg5: 4,126 games — White scores 46.6% (Black slightly better) - Nf3: 2,740 games — White scores 46.2% (Black slightly better) - Bf4: 2,513 games — White scores 43.8% (Black clearly better!) - g3: 349 games — White scores 44.4% (Black better) - f3: 272 games — White scores 51.5% (Black worse) The standout is Bf4, where White's winning percentage drops to just 43.8% — the lowest of any frequent move. If your opponent plays Bf4, you're already doing well statistically.
The One Move to Punish
According to the known mistakes in this position, f3 is an inaccuracy that loses about 0.8 pawns compared to the better move e4. White's idea behind f3 is to prepare e4 while preventing ...Ng4, but it weakens the kingside and wastes a tempo. In the 272 games where White tried f3, White scored 51.5% — their best result among all options — so while the engine dislikes it, it's not a blunder. Still, as Black you should be alert: after f3, you can consider ...d6, ...Bg7, and then look for quick counterplay with ...b5 or ...e6 breaks since White's kingside is slightly compromised.
Results across 40,162 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e4 | 28,932 | 48.1% |
| Bg5 | 4,126 | 46.6% |
| Nf3 | 2,740 | 46.2% |
| Bf4 | 2,513 | 43.8% |
| g3 | 349 | 44.4% |
| f3 | 272 | 51.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Benoni-Indian Defense with Nc3 good for Black?
Yes, it's a solid fighting choice. The engine gives White a +0.75 advantage, but Black scores 49.5% in practice — higher than White's 47.4% — so it's a great opening to play for a win as Black at club level and beyond.
What is White's best move in this position?
The engine recommends e4, which is also the most common move (28,932 games). After e4, Black plays d6, and the game typically continues Nf3 Bg7, leading to a standard Benoni structure.
What should Black do against f3?
f3 is considered an inaccuracy, losing about 0.8 pawns. Black can develop normally with d6 and Bg7, then look for active counterplay with ...b5 or ...e6. The weakened kingside gives Black extra chances.
Which White move gives Black the best results?
Bf4 gives Black the best results — White scores only 43.8% from that move. Black scores over 56% in games where White plays Bf4. Just develop with d6, Bg7, and castle, and you'll be fine.
How many games feature the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense: Nc3?
Over 40K Lichess games have reached the Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense: Nc3 position. White wins 47.4%, Black wins 49.5%, with 3.0% draws — based on real rated games.