Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted
1. d4 c5 2. dxc5
The Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted is a chess opening classified as ECO A43, reached after 1. d4 c5 2. dxc5. It is a line of the Benoni Defense. Black is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 21,192 times by this move order. White won 47%, 4% were drawn and Black won 49%. The most popular continuation is 2… e6 (32% of games).
Engine evaluation: 0.00 (Stockfish, depth 48; best line 2… e6 3. e4 Bxc5 4. Bd3 d6 5. Nf3)
- ECO
- A43
- Moves
- 3 plies
- FEN
rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/2P5/8/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 2- PGN
1. d4 c5 2. dxc5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 8,468 | |
| 1500-1999 | 10,845 | |
| 2000+ | 1,879 | |
| All | 21,192 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 2… e6 | 6,712 (32%) | |
| 2… Qa5+ | 4,819 (23%) | |
| 2… Nc6 | 3,814 (18%) | |
| 2… e5 | 3,596 (17%) | |
| 2… Nf6 | 696 (3%) | |
| 2… b6 Cormorant Gambit | 412 (2%) | |
| 2… g6 | 261 (1%) | |
| 2… Na6 Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense | 248 (1%) |
Master games
572 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 37%, draw 15%, Black 48%). The strongest:
- IM Felix-Antonio Ilinca (2431) – GM Magnus Carlsen (2839) 0-1 · Titled Tue 7th Oct 2025 · 2025-10-07
- GM Raunak Sadhwani (2545) – GM Vladimir Fedoseev (2687) 1-0 · Titled Arena Jan 2nd 2021 · 2021-01-02
- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2770) – IM Thomas Beerdsen (2453) 0-1 · Titled Arena Apr 3rd 2021 · 2021-04-03
- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2770) – IM Piotr Piesik (2400) 1-0 · Titled Tuesday 22nd Dec · 2020-12-22
- GM Igor Kovalenko (2674) – GM Ilja Zaragatski (2489) 1-0 · Chess24 Banter Blitz Cup · 2019-10-02
Search all games of the Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- BishopAndSons (2674) – IM nickVet (2713) 0-1 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
- sergolvz (2574) – The_Fastest_Hand (2575) 1-0 · 2026-09-01 · 180 + 0s
- GM AtalikS (2650) – aballarjess (2480) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Continuations
- Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense A43 · 1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 Na6
- Benoni Defense: Cormorant Gambit A43 · 1. d4 c5 2. dxc5 b6
More Benoni Defense lines (all)
- Benoni Defense: Franco-Sicilian Hybrid A40
- Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense A43
- Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order A43
- Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit A43
- Benoni Defense: French Benoni A43
- Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation A43
- Benoni Defense: Old Benoni (1… c5 2. d5) A43
- Benoni Defense: Old Benoni (2. d5 d6) A43
- Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Mujannah Formation A43
- Benoni Defense: Old Benoni, Schmid Variation A43
- Benoni Defense: Snail Variation A43
- Benoni Defense: Woozle A43
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.