Library/Openings/Nimzo-Indian Defense/Leningrad Variation/Benoni Defense ECO E31
Opening· 12 plies

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO E31), reached after 12 half-moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6.

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense ECO E31
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Black rook
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Black bishop
Black queen
Black king
Black rook
Black pawn
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Black knight
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White pawn
Black bishop
White pawn
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White rook
White queen
White king
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White rook
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End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, Benoni Defense is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code E31. 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 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 d6.

It belongs to the Nimzo-Indian Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Leningrad Variation → Benoni Defense line). The immediate parent line is Nimzo-Indian Defense: Leningrad Variation, transitioned via 6…d6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 Nf6, 2.c4 e6, 3.Nc3 Bb4, 4.Bg5 h6, 5.Bh4 c5, 6.d5 d6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.