Hawk Variation
- 1.d4Nf6
- 2.Nf3c5
- 3.d5c4
82 games
A rare Benoni sideline in which Black meets 3. d5 with the advance 3...c4; engines regard it as dubious, and White scores well in practice.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Hawk Variation
The Hawk Variation arises from the Spielmann-Indian move order 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5. Black pushes 3...c4 instead of choosing 3...e6 or 3...b5, using the fact that White's c-pawn has not yet reached c4. The advanced pawn has little support, and 4. e3 and 4. Qd4 both go after it at once. The most common reply is 4. Nc3. The line is rarely played. Engines rate White clearly better, and White also scores well in practice.