Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense (9. O-O Re8)
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8
The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense is a chess opening classified as ECO A76, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8. It is a line of the Benoni Defense. White is to move. 1 named line continues from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 19 times by this move order. White won 53%, 5% were drawn and Black won 42%. The most popular continuation is 10. Nd2 (63% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.56 (Stockfish, depth 33; best line 10. Nd2 Na6 11. f3 Nc7 12. a4 b6)
- ECO
- A76
- Moves
- 18 plies
- FEN
rnbqr1k1/pp3pbp/3p1np1/2pP4/4P3/2N2N2/PP2BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 6 10- PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 1500-1999 | 4 | |
| 2000+ | 15 | |
| All | 19 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 10. Nd2 Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense, Tal Line | 12 (63%) | |
| 10. Qc2 | 5 (26%) | |
| 10. Bd3 | 2 (11%) |
Master games
14 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 21%, draw 0%, Black 79%). The strongest:
- Francisco Jose Fernandez Lopez (1887) – GM Daniel Forcen Esteban (2568) 0-1 · 41st Benasque Open 2022 · 2022-07-06
- Sebastian Fuentes de Nova (1902) – GM Alexandr Fier (2534) 0-1 · 51st La Roda Open 2025 · 2025-04-15
- CM Evgenij Novikov (2276) – CM Wojciech Smieszek (2092) 1-0 · Titled Tue 23rd Jul Early · 2024-07-23
- Isabelle Malassagne (1985) – WGM Nino Maisuradze (2304) 0-1 · French Top 12 2013 · 2013-06-06
- Bebchuk, B. (2204) – Izrail Sheynin (2030) 1-0 · Chigorin Memorial 2014 · 2014-10-23
Search all games of the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- FM bangalibabu (2472) – hierasousse (2544) 0-1 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 0s
- pashka001 (2351) – terrorboy (2417) 0-1 · 2026-09-01 · 180 + 2s
- Phridolin (2379) – Pichon80 (2233) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O
Continuations
- Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense, Tal Line A77 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Re8 10. Nd2
More Benoni Defense lines (all)
- Benoni Defense: Franco-Sicilian Hybrid A40
- Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted A43
- Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense A43
- Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense A43
- Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order A43
- Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit A43
- Benoni Defense: Cormorant Gambit A43
- Benoni Defense: French Benoni A43
- Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation A43
- Benoni Defense: Old Benoni (1. d4 c5) A43
- Benoni Defense: Old Benoni (1… c5 2. d5) A43
- Benoni Defense: Old Benoni (2. d5 d6) 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.