Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense

The Benoni Defense answers the Averbakh pin with 6...c5. The move strikes at d4 while the thematic ...e5 is unavailable, and it keeps the long diagonal of the g7-bishop open. White nearly always closes the center with 7. d5, the Advance Variation, after which Black usually undermines the advanced pawn with ...e6 in Benoni fashion. 7. dxc5, the Exchange Variation, is a distant second. Engines give White a slight edge.