Theoria
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Benoni Defense

Fianchetto Variation, Hastings Defense, Main Line

A64positional

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.g3c5
  4. 4.d5exd5
  5. 5.cxd5d6
  6. 6.Nc3g6
  7. 7.Bg2Bg7
  8. 8.Nf3O-O
  9. 9.O-Oa6
  10. 10.a4Nbd7
  11. 11.Nd2Re8
258 games55%40%

Main line of the Fianchetto Benoni's Hastings Defense, where ...a6 and a4 precede ...Nbd7 and ...Re8. A maneuvering, roughly balanced position.

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About the Main Line

The main line of the Hastings Defense, ECO A64, inserts 9...a6 10. a4 before 10...Nbd7 11. Nd2 Re8. White's a4 stops ...b5, Nd2 opens the g2 bishop's diagonal and heads for c4 to hit d6, and ...Re8 contests the e-file against e4. The usual reply is 12. Nc4. 12. h3 scores well for White, while the rarer 12. e4 has favored Black. Engines rate the position roughly balanced.

Popular continuations