ecocodes
Volume A · Flank openings‹ A71A73 ›
a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8
Reference position · White to move

A72 Benoni Defense: Classical Variation

A72 holds a single named line. It leaves A70 (Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation) with 8...O-O. White, to move in that position, has 40 legal moves, the most of the 23 Benoni Defense codes. Lines of seven other codes continue from its position, the fifth-widest spread of the 23 Benoni Defense codes. Lines filed under A75 reach its named position by a different move order.

Score sheet
#WhiteBlack
1d4Nf6
2c4c5
3d5e6
4Nc3exd5
5cxd5d6
6e4g6
7Nf3Bg7
8Be2O-O

The move that completes A72

The reference line of A73 plays all of these moves and continues beyond them; A72 is the position reached at 8...O-O.

  1. 8...O-O Black castles kingside, opening a line for the queen on d8, guarding the bishop on g7.

The road to A72

Two of the eight named positions on the way are reached by a move order other than their own.

  1. 1.d4 … 6...g6six earlier stops: A40, A45, A50, A56, A60, A65
  2. 7.Nf3A70 Classical Variation by another order
  3. 8.Be2A70 Traditional Variation by another order
  4. 8...O-OA72

The position after 8...O-O

White has brought out the knight on c3, knight on f3 and bishop on e2; Black the knight on f6 and bishop on g7. White has a half-open c-file; Black a half-open e-file.

WhiteBlackMaterial (pawn units)3838Minor pieces developed32Moves spent on pawns55Pawns on d4, e4, d5, e520Squares attacked in the other half95not castledcastled kingside, move 8

Codes that branch off from A72

The reference lines of one other code leave A72 from the position after 8...O-O, each with its own moves.

CodeMovesReference line
A739.O-OBenoni Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line

Closest boards in other codes

CodeLineDiffers on
A62Benoni Defense: Fianchetto Variationfour squares: e2, g2, g3, e4
A68Benoni Defense: Four Pawns Attackfour squares: f1, e2, f2, f4
A69Benoni Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Main Linefour squares: f2, f4, e8, f8
A76Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defensesix squares: e1, f1, g1, h1, e8, f8
E75King’s Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Main Linesix squares: c1, g1, f3, c4, g5, e6
E78King’s Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Fluid Attacksix squares: f2, c4, d4, f4, d5, e7
E91King’s Indian Defense: Orthodox Variationsix squares: c4, d4, c5, d5, c7, e7

Where lines continue from here

Besides the codes above, they belong to A74, A75, A76, A77, A78, A79.

Volume A

  1. 00
  2. 01
  3. 02
  4. 03
  5. 04
  6. 05
  7. 06
  8. 07
  9. 08
  10. 09
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68
  70. 69
  71. 70
  72. 71
  73. 72
  74. 73
  75. 74
  76. 75
  77. 76
  78. 77
  79. 78
  80. 79
  81. 80
  82. 81
  83. 82
  84. 83
  85. 84
  86. 85
  87. 86
  88. 87
  89. 88
  90. 89
  91. 90
  92. 91
  93. 92
  94. 93
  95. 94
  96. 95
  97. 96
  98. 97
  99. 98
  100. 99

Other move orders

  • Benoni Defense: Classical Variation is also reached inside A75 Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Argentine Counterattack, whose order is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O.

Open this line in the finderAll Benoni Defense codes