TrueEloPlay what wins.
Analyzer

Benoni Defense: Classical Variation

112K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score48.9%Range (90% confident): 48.7% – 49.2%Based on 112K games
0%48.9%100%
Range (90% confident): 48.7% – 49.2%
Outcome Distribution
46.6%4.5%48.8%
Win
Draw
Loss
7.e4
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation
Analyzen=112K
Avg Length37 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.5%

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 48.9% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 48.7% and 49.2%), based on 112K Lichess games.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 8.6% · Bullet best · Classical worst

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 45% → 49%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 44.7% win rate (69 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.9% win rate (343 games)
  • 1200-1399: 47.6% win rate (1,294 games)
  • 1400-1599: 46.8% win rate (4,065 games)
  • 1600-1799: 46.5% win rate (11,025 games)
  • 1800-1999: 45.3% win rate (25,723 games)
  • 2000-2199: 46.0% win rate (35,390 games)
  • 2200-2499: 48.0% win rate (27,975 games)
  • 2500+: 49.3% win rate (5,722 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (52%), worst in Classical (39%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 52.4% win rate (70 games)
  • Bullet: 47.8% win rate (37,363 games)
  • Blitz: 46.1% win rate (63,272 games)
  • Rapid: 45.9% win rate (10,468 games)
  • Classical: 39.2% win rate (433 games)

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999——
1000-1199—
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 48.0% expected score (48 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 44.9% expected score (18 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 57.5% expected score (186 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 37.0% expected score (133 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 66.4% expected score (23 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (666 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 47.5% expected score (531 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 47.9% expected score (93 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 45.3% expected score (9 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (1,703 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 47.6% expected score (2,026 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 45.6% expected score (306 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 38.9% expected score (21 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 63.4% expected score (6 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (3,769 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 47.4% expected score (6,186 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 47.5% expected score (1,014 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 52.0% expected score (50 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.6% expected score (13 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (6,699 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (16,051 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 48.3% expected score (2,798 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 39.3% expected score (162 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 53.3% expected score (14 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.5% expected score (9,218 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 48.6% expected score (22,082 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (3,921 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 41.7% expected score (155 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 59.5% expected score (25 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 50.3% expected score (10,992 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (14,713 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 52.7% expected score (2,206 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 59.9% expected score (39 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (4,082 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 53.5% expected score (1,532 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 62.8% expected score (104 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 61.1% expected score (3 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Benoni Defense
47.5%
Variations (5)
Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted
47.4%
Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit, Schlenker Defense
48.7%
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense
50.1%
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Indian Defense, Kingside Move Order
49.0%
Benoni Defense: Benoni-Staunton Gambit
53.5%
Continuations (8)
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Argentine Counterattack
47.4%
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Averbakh-Grivas Attack
46.0%
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense
46.4%
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Czerniak Defense, Tal Line
51.2%
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Full Line
50.2%
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Main Line
48.0%
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, New York Variation
51.4%
Benoni Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation
48.3%
Analyze Benoni Defense: Classical Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate?

The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.6% (90% CI: 46.4%-46.9%) win rate for white, based on 112K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation perform best?

The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 49.3% win rate for white (5.7K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (47.8%) outperforms Classical (39.2%) by 8.6%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation?

The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a sharpness score of 95.5 (very decisive), meaning 95.5% of games end decisively. Average game length is 37 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 48.9% (90% CI: 44.5%-53.3%) win rate for white, based on 343 Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 2.2% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 47.6% (90% CI: 45.3%-49.9%) win rate for white, based on 1.3K Lichess games. Average game length is 30 moves with a 1.7% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.8% (90% CI: 45.5%-48.1%) win rate for white, based on 4.1K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.5% (90% CI: 45.7%-47.2%) win rate for white, based on 11K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 45.3% (90% CI: 44.8%-45.8%) win rate for white, based on 26K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.0% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.0% (90% CI: 45.6%-46.4%) win rate for white, based on 35K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 48.0% (90% CI: 47.5%-48.5%) win rate for white, based on 28K Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.4% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.3% (90% CI: 48.2%-50.4%) win rate for white, based on 5.7K Lichess games. Average game length is 42 moves with a 5.6% draw rate.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 47.8% (90% CI: 47.4%-48.3%) win rate for white (37K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.2%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.1% (90% CI: 45.8%-46.4%) win rate for white (63K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.1%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 45.9% (90% CI: 45.1%-46.7%) win rate for white (10K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.8%.

What is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation has a 39.2% (90% CI: 35.4%-43.1%) win rate for white (433 Lichess games). Draw rate is 8.2%.

Is the Benoni Defense: Classical Variation a good opening?

The Benoni Defense: Classical Variation is statistically balanced with a 46.6% (90% CI: 46.4%-46.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.