- ECO code
- A43
- Moves
- 1.d4 c5
- Family
- Benoni Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 164
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1907–2026
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni is the opening filed under ECO code A43, reached after 1.d4 c5. It belongs to the Benoni Defense family and is known as the Old Benoni; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 164 games on this line — the 310th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1907 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 71 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 40% of those games, 20% end in a draw, and Black wins 40%. Compared with the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%), Black scores better here by 12 percentage points. Draws are less common here than usual, by 15 points.
From this position the most popular move is 2.d5, played in 127 games, followed by 2.e3 (11) and 2.c3 (8). After 2.d5 White scores 43% and Black 36%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Le Tuan Minh (9 games); on the Black side, Nakamura,Hi (24).
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Results in master games
- White 40% (65)
- Draws 20% (33)
- Black 40% (66)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.d5 | 127 | 43/21/36 | — |
| 2.e3 | 11 | 9/36/55 | — |
| 2.c3 | 8 | 25/0/75 | — |
| 2.dxc5 | 7 | 57/14/29 | — |
| 2.Nf3 | 6 | 33/17/50 | — |
| 2.e4 | 3 | 33/0/67 | — |
| 2.c4 | 2 | 50/0/50 | — |
How the position is reached
- Queen's Pawn Game · 1.d4 · 45,810 games
Played most often by
As White
- Le Tuan Minh 9
- Mamedyarov,S 7
- Marshall, Frank James 4
As Black
- Nakamura,Hi 24
- Carlsen,M 12
- Larsen, Bent 12
Games per decade
- 1900s 2
- 1910s 5
- 1920s 6
- 1930s 7
- 1950s 6
- 1960s 20
- 1970s 11
- 1980s 6
- 1990s 9
- 2000s 8
- 2010s 13
- 2020s 71
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wojtaszek,R | Gukesh,D | 1-0 | 2026 | GCT Super Blitz Poland |
| Weetik,V | Grischuk,A | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 11th Jun 2026 |
| Galaviz Medina,Sion Radamantys | Carlsen,M | 0-1 | 2026 | 2nd 3-0 Thu 15th Jan 2026 |
| Andreikin,D | Nakamura,Hi | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 3rd Mar 2026 |
| Rasulov,Vu | Nepomniachtchi,I | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 13th Jan 2026 |
| Pyrih,Roman | Nepomniachtchi,I | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 14th Apr 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Benoni Defense: Old Benoni?
It is the opening with ECO code A43, reached after 1.d4 c5. It belongs to the Benoni Defense family.
Is the Benoni Defense: Old Benoni good for White or for Black?
In 164 master games on this line White wins 40%, 20% are drawn and Black wins 40%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is a slightly better bargain for Black than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Benoni Defense: Old Benoni?
2.d5 — played in 127 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Benoni Defense: Old Benoni?
On the White side Le Tuan Minh (9), Mamedyarov,S (7), Marshall, Frank James (4); on the Black side Nakamura,Hi (24), Carlsen,M (12), Larsen, Bent (12).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
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