Chess Openings Lab
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Benoni Defense: Czech Benoni Defense

The Czech Benoni arises after 3.d5 e5, when Black answers the space grab by locking the center with pawns on c5 and e5. White wants more space and a later f4 or b4 lever, while Black regroups behind the chain and prepares ...f5 or ...b5.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5
ECO
A56
Engine
+1.28 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
251 games in our lichess sample
White scores
49.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Develop with Nc3 and e4 first, as the top engine line does, so the d5 pawn is rock solid before anything else happens.
  • Play h3 early to take g4 away from Black's light-squared bishop and knight, then develop the dark-squared bishop to e3.
  • Open a second front later: f4 on the kingside or a3 and b4 against the c5 pawn, once all your pieces are out.

Black

  • Follow with ...d6, ...g6 and ...Bg7 or ...Be7. The center is closed, so slow development carries little risk.
  • Prepare ...f5 with ...Nh5 and ...g6. That break hits e4 and is the main way to free Black's position.
  • Use ...a6 and ...Nbd7 to keep options open: the knight can go to b6 to press c4 or to f6 to cover e4.

Plans and pawn structure

With pawns locked on d5 and e5, play moves to the wings. White's main tries are f4 on the kingside and a3 with b4 on the queenside, so White wants a knight on e2 or c3 and the king tucked away first. Black usually castles short and prepares ...f5 with ...Nh5 and ...g6. If ...f5 lands with good support, Black's pieces gain room around e5. If White trades on f5 and plants a knight on e4, the d6 pawn becomes a fixed target and Black's dark-squared bishop has little to bite on.

Where the engine's main line heads: Locked center: d5–e4 against d6–e5. A locked center: White's d5 and e4 against Black's d6 and e5. The game moves to the wings, where each side attacks where its pawns point.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.28: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.28 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 g6 6.h3 a6
  2. +1.12 4.h3 Ne4 5.Qc2 Qa5+ 6.Nd2 Nxd2
  3. +1.01 4.g3 d6 5.Nc3 e4 6.Bg2 Bf5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

251 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 49.8%.

1600–199948.8%
2000 and up50.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • King's Indian System4.Nc3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, keep it simple: Nc3, e4, then h3 and Be3 or Bd3. Do not rush f4 before your pieces are out, because Black takes on f4 and then owns the e5 square. Black's play is slow, so point your pieces at the ...f5 break before it comes.

Questions

What are the moves of the Benoni Defense: Czech Benoni Defense?

The Benoni Defense: Czech Benoni Defense starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e5. Its ECO code is A56.

Is the Benoni Defense: Czech Benoni Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.28 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 251 lichess games from our sample, White scored 49.8%. A good fit for patient Black players who like closed positions, but it hands White a lasting space edge that must be met with careful regrouping.

What is the main idea of the Benoni Defense: Czech Benoni Defense?

Black closes the center at once with ...e5 so that the game becomes a slow maneuvering fight. White keeps more space with Nc3, e4 and h3, while Black prepares ...f5 to break the d5 and e4 chain.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc3, with h3 and g3 close behind. 4.Nc3 develops toward e4 and b5 and makes sure the d5 pawn can be backed up by e4 next move.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.