Chess Openings Lab
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Scotch Game: Benima Defense

The Benima Defense arises after 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 exd4, where Black's modest bishop move is followed by a capture in the center. White can recapture on d4 or castle first, while Black wants ...Nf6 against e4 and a safe, compact position.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 exd4
ECO
C44
Engine
+0.45 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,949 games in our lichess sample
White scores
54.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Recapture 5.Nxd4 and, after ...Nf6, trade on c6 and queens as in the engine line for a small endgame edge.
  • Castle first and take on d4 later, keeping more pieces on the board and a lead in development.
  • Gambit-minded players can try c3, but ...Na5 hits the c4 bishop and Black keeps a sound position.
  • Guard e4 with Nc3 whenever Black's knight lands on f6, so Black has no cheap ...Nxe4 trick.

Black

  • Play ...Nf6 right away to hit e4, so White must spend a move on Nc3 or a trade.
  • After Nxd4, trading knights with ...Nxd4 and following up with ...d6 frees the c8 bishop.
  • Against c3, ...Na5 chases the c4 bishop first, and only then does Black take with ...dxc3.
  • Keep the e7 bishop at home to guard the king. Black is not aiming for early attacks here.

Plans and pawn structure

The e7 bishop makes Black safe but passive, so White plays for space and quick development. After 5.Nxd4 Nf6 the trade on c6 and the queen swap give a quiet endgame where White's better structure counts for a little. In the castling line, White gets Nc3, a queen on d4 and a rook to e1, while Black frees the game with ...d6, ...Be6 and sometimes ...d5. The key fight is White's e4 pawn against Black's knight on f6.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.45: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.45 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nxc6 dxc6 7.Qxd8+ Bxd8
  2. +0.42 5.O-O Nf6 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Nc3 Nxd4
  3. +0.40 5.c3 Na5 6.Be2 dxc3 7.Nxc3 d6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,949 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 54.7%.

under 120044.5%
1200–159957.6%
1600–199953.1%
2000 and up57.7%

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

Where it goes next

  • Hungarian Defense, Tartakower Variation5.c3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, recapture on d4 or castle and take later, both give an easy edge. Avoid wild attacks on f7: the e7 bishop and quick castling make them fizzle. As Black, do not rush ...d5 before castling, since the center opens while your king is still on e8.

Questions

What are the moves of the Scotch Game: Benima Defense?

The Scotch Game: Benima Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 exd4. Its ECO code is C44.

Is the Scotch Game: Benima Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.45 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,949 lichess games from our sample, White scored 54.7%. Suits Black players who want a quiet, solid game, while White players get a small, easy edge without needing deep theory.

What is the main idea of the Scotch Game: Benima Defense?

Black combines the solid Hungarian bishop on e7 with a central capture on d4. White gets free development and can steer into a slightly better endgame or a calmer middlegame with castling first.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nxd4, with O-O and c3 close behind. 5.Nxd4 wins back the pawn at once and invites a queen trade that leaves White a slightly better endgame.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.