King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5
The King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense is a chess opening classified as ECO E74, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5. It is a line of the King's Indian Defense. White is to move. 2 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 133 times by this move order. White won 54%, 5% were drawn and Black won 41%. The most popular continuation is 7. d5 (88% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.31 (Stockfish, depth 40; best line 7. d5 e6 8. Qc1 Qa5 9. Bd2 exd5)
- ECO
- E74
- Moves
- 12 plies
- FEN
rnbq1rk1/pp2ppbp/3p1np1/2p3B1/2PPP3/2N5/PP2BPPP/R2QK1NR w KQ - 0 7- PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 5 | |
| 1500-1999 | 31 | |
| 2000+ | 97 | |
| All | 133 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 7. d5 Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Advance Variation | 117 (88%) | |
| 7. dxc5 Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation | 11 (8%) | |
| 7. Nf3 | 5 (4%) |
Master games
8 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 13%, draw 62%, Black 25%). The strongest:
- GM Dmitry Kryakvin (2567) – GM Dmitry Kokarev (2608) 1/2-1/2 · Kolomna Rapid 2018 · 2018-02-16
- IM Agasiyev, Ka. (2441) – IM Bakhtiyar Nugumanov (2354) 0-1 · Titled Tue 25th Oct Early · 2022-10-25
- IM Guy Levin (2464) – FM Stanley Badacsonyi (2309) 1/2-1/2 · V Mindsports Int Open · 2025-08-16
- Georg Kravanja (2247) – GM Rainer Polzin (2396) 0-1 · TCh-AUT 2nd Mitte 2017-18 · 2017-11-24
- GM Lajos Seres (2322) – Adharsh K (2268) 1-0 · FSIM August 2024 · 2024-08-06
Highest-rated Lichess games
- Runasimi (2457) – steel_balls (2554) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 2s
- Pastukhov_Nicolay (2505) – sibuna1 (2476) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- VladimirTambov (2421) – OutslyGutsly (2554) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5
Continuations
- King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Advance Variation E74 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5
- King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation E74 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. dxc5
More King's Indian Defense lines (all)
- King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation E60
- King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Immediate Fianchetto E60
- King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation E60
- King's Indian Defense: Santasiere Variation E60
- King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Benoni Variation E60
- King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Hollywood Variation E60
- King's Indian Defense E61
- King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense E61
- King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation E61
- King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation E61
- King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Queenside Storm Line E61
- King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation E61
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.