The Modern Variation, Snake Variation is a variation of the Benoni Defense, catalogued as ECO A60. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is White to move after five moves.
On the Benoni Defense generally: An aggressive defense where Black accepts a space disadvantage for dynamic counterplay.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 36 Benoni Defense variations →
The Modern Variation, Snake Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6. It is a variation of the Benoni Defense and is catalogued as ECO A60.
The Modern Variation, Snake Variation is ECO A60. 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 Bd6 at +0.93 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. 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 one minor pieces each. It is White to move.