The Mikenas Variation is a variation of the Benoni Defense, catalogued as ECO A66. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. e5, reaching the position shown below after 15 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5 and e5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one 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 Mikenas Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. e5. It is a variation of the Benoni Defense and is catalogued as ECO A66.
The Mikenas Variation is ECO A66. 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 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. e5 at +0.33 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 e5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move.