Theoria
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Benoni Defense

Weenink Variation

A56offbeat

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4c5
  3. 3.dxc5e6
1,178 games46%49%

A Benoni line where White captures with 3. dxc5 and Black answers 3...e6, aiming to regain the pawn with ...Bxc5 after eliminating White's d-pawn.

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About the Weenink Variation

The Weenink Variation arises when White accepts the c-pawn with 3. dxc5 and Black replies 3...e6. Black intends ...Bxc5 to recover the material, having traded the c-pawn for White's d-pawn and developed the bishop with tempo. Engines rate the position as roughly balanced, and Black scores slightly better than White in Lichess games. 4. Nc3 is the most frequent reply, ahead of 4. Nf3. The alternative 4. b4 tries to hold the extra pawn, and Black scores well against it.

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