Theoria
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Benoni Defense

Classical Variation, Argentine Counterattack

A75positional

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nf3c5
  4. 4.d5exd5
  5. 5.cxd5d6
  6. 6.Nc3g6
  7. 7.e4Bg7
  8. 8.Be2O-O
  9. 9.O-Oa6
  10. 10.a4Bg4
168 games47%51%

A Classical Benoni line in which Black answers 10. a4 with 10...Bg4, aiming to trade the light-squared bishop for White's f3-knight.

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About the Argentine Counterattack

The Argentine Counterattack arises from the Full Line of the Classical Benoni when Black meets 10. a4 with 10...Bg4. Since a4 has made ...b5 hard to arrange, Black looks for relief by exchanging the bishop for the f3-knight, which loosens White's hold on e5. The usual reply is 11. Nd2, which sidesteps that exchange. The alternatives are 11. h3 and 11. Bf4. Engines give White a slight edge, yet Black scores marginally better in Lichess games.

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