Theoria
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Benoni Defense

Classical Variation, Traditional Variation

A70positionalsolid

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nf3c5
  4. 4.d5exd5
  5. 5.cxd5d6
  6. 6.Nc3g6
  7. 7.e4Bg7
  8. 8.Be2
1,165 games50%47%

Benoni line in which White meets 7...Bg7 with the quiet 8. Be2, preparing kingside castling and heading for the Classical Main Line.

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About the Traditional Variation

The Traditional Variation is White's most straightforward handling of the Classical Benoni: 8. Be2 completes kingside development and prepares to castle, keeping the d5-e4 center intact without spending a tempo on h3. It does allow 8...Bg4, trading the bishop for the f3-knight, though Black overwhelmingly prefers 8...O-O, after which 9. O-O reaches the Main Line. 8...a6 is a rarer option. Engines give White a slight edge, while results in practice are close to even.

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