Benoni Defense: Old Benoni: what should White play?

In the Old Benoni, reached after White establishes an advanced wedge with a pawn on d5, White's most robust theoretical continuation is c4. This move cements the central pawn structure, claims a territorial advantage, and prepares natural development for White's queenside pieces. Backed by an engine evaluation of +0.74, c4 remains the primary choice in opening books, appearing in 65.1% of recorded games (2.73M recorded) with a 52.9% score for White.

Establishing the Classical Center with c4

Playing c4 clamps down on key central squares and secures the d5 outpost against immediate counterplay. An illustrative continuation highlighted by the engine is c4 g6 e4 Bg7 Nf3 d6, where White constructs a broad pawn center while Black prepares kingside fianchetto pressure. By maintaining the pawn wedge on d5, White denies Black easy freedom of movement through the center and retains a persistent spatial plus.

Flexible Alternatives: Nc3 and e4

White also frequently develops with Nc3 or e4, which yield solid positions with positive engine evaluations of +0.64 and +0.61, respectively. The development Nc3 accounts for 6.7% of games (280K recorded) and achieves a 54.9% score for White, featuring in the illustrative sequence Nc3 Nf6 e4 d6 Nf3 Be7. Similarly, the immediate e4 is chosen in 12.3% of games (516K recorded) and achieves a 53.3% score, often transposing via the line e4 Nf6 Nc3 d6 Nf3 Be7.

Relinquishing Tension: dxe6 and e3

Prematurely resolving the central tension with dxe6 is chosen in 15.9% of games (667K recorded), but it eases Black's structural constraints, dropping the evaluation to +0.44 and White's score to 48.2% through lines such as dxe6 fxe6 e4 a6 g3 Nc6. The quiet e3 is rare, seen in only 0.1% of games (3.0K recorded) with a +0.27 evaluation and a 42.8% score, continuing with e3 exd5 Nc3 Nf6 Nge2 Be7.