Classical Variation

The Classical Variation is the Modern Benoni structure with White's knight developed to f3 and the pawn on e4, with f2-f4 left aside. The listed order, 3. Nf3 c5, is a common way into the Benoni because it rules out those f4 lines from the start. Black nearly always continues 7...Bg7. The rarer 7...Bg4 trades the light-squared bishop for the f3-knight at once, easing the cramp and weakening White's grip on e5. The other alternative, 7...a6, prepares ...b5 before Black commits the bishop.

After 7...Bg7, the New York Variation 8. h3 prevents ...Bg4. The Averbakh-Grivas Attack 8. Bg5 pins the f6-knight. The Traditional Variation 8. Be2 leads after 8...O-O 9. O-O to the Main Line. From there Black chooses between the Czerniak Defense 9...Re8, which targets e4, and 9...a6. White answers the latter with 10. a4 (the Full Line) to restrain ...b5, and 10...Bg4 is the Argentine Counterattack. Engines give White a slight edge, yet Black scores marginally better in Lichess games.