Snail Variation

The Snail Variation is a rarely played Old Benoni sideline in which Black meets 2. d5 with 2...Na6. The knight goes to the rim instead of Black striking at the d5-pawn with ...e6, ...e5 or ...b5, and from a6 it can reroute to c7, where it bears on d5 and b5. Engines rate the line as a clear advantage for White. The usual replies are 3. c4, which scores heavily for White, and 3. e4, after which Black has done better in the small sample of games.