The Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack is a variation of the Benoni Defense, catalogued as ECO A71. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Bg5, reaching the position shown below after 15 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e4. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move after eight moves.
On the Benoni Defense generally: An aggressive defense where Black accepts a space disadvantage for dynamic counterplay.
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The Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Bg5. It is a variation of the Benoni Defense and is catalogued as ECO A71.
The Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack is ECO A71. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Benoni Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 Bg7 8. Bg5 at +0.58 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e4. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move.