King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO E74), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5.

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7.d5 1 line
- E74 Advance Variation
7.dxc5 1 line
- E74 Exchange Variation

About this opening

King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code E74. ECO group E (E00–E99) covers Indian defences against 1.d4, covering the Nimzo-Indian, Queen's Indian, King's Indian and Catalan systems. This particular variation is reached after 12 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5.

It belongs to the King's Indian Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Averbakh Variation → Benoni Defense line). The immediate parent line is King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, transitioned via 6…c5.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 g6, 3.Nc3 Bg7, 4.e4 d6, 5.Be2 O-O, 6.Bg5 c5. From this position 2 named continuations are recorded in the encyclopaedia, each leading to a distinct theoretical line.