The Fianchetto Variation, Hastings Defense is a variation of the Benoni Defense, catalogued as ECO A63. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Nbd7, reaching the position shown below after 18 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after nine moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the Benoni Defense generally: An aggressive defense where Black accepts a space disadvantage for dynamic counterplay.
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The Fianchetto Variation, Hastings Defense goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Nbd7. It is a variation of the Benoni Defense and is catalogued as ECO A63.
The Fianchetto Variation, Hastings Defense is ECO A63. 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. g3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Nbd7 at +0.59 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. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.