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Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation

3.3K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score53.3%Range (90% confident): 51.8% – 54.7%Based on 3.3K games
0%53.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.8% – 54.7%
Outcome Distribution
51.7%3.2%45.1%
Win
Draw
Loss
3...c4
Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation
Analyzen=3.3K
Avg Length32 moves
Sharpness97%
Draw Rate3.2%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 53.3% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 51.8% and 54.7%), based on 3.3K Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 49% → 43%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 48.7% win rate (55 games)
  • 1000-1199: 50.9% win rate (186 games)
  • 1200-1399: 50.5% win rate (459 games)
  • 1400-1599: 51.7% win rate (767 games)
  • 1600-1799: 56.0% win rate (794 games)
  • 1800-1999: 51.1% win rate (516 games)
  • 2000-2199: 50.1% win rate (205 games)
  • 2200-2499: 46.1% win rate (238 games)
  • 2500+: 42.7% win rate (105 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Classical (73%), worst in Bullet (48%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 64.7% win rate (7 games)
  • Bullet: 48.4% win rate (720 games)
  • Blitz: 52.0% win rate (1,793 games)
  • Rapid: 52.4% win rate (766 games)
  • Classical: 72.8% win rate (39 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: 50.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 52.8% expected score (35 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 32.4% expected score (7 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (46 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 57.4% expected score (114 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 33.7% expected score (26 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (102 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.9% expected score (271 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 52.4% expected score (81 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 65.4% expected score (5 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.8% expected score (111 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.3% expected score (441 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 52.0% expected score (203 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 79.7% expected score (12 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.9% expected score (115 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 58.8% expected score (426 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (242 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 67.4% expected score (10 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (66 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 54.2% expected score (275 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (162 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 78.6% expected score (9 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 45.4% expected score (64 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (100 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 66.5% expected score (38 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 64.3% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 52.9% expected score (121 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 42.3% expected score (109 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 44.2% expected score (7 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (83 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 41.5% expected score (22 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%
Analyze Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation win rate?

The Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 51.7% (90% CI: 50.2%-53.1%) win rate for white, based on 3.3K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation performs best at 1600-1799 Elo with a 56.0% win rate for white (794 games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Blitz (52.0%) outperforms Bullet (48.4%) by 3.6%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation?

The Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a sharpness score of 96.8 (very decisive), meaning 96.8% of games end decisively. Average game length is 32 moves.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 50.9% (90% CI: 44.9%-56.9%) win rate for white, based on 186 Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.4% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 50.5% (90% CI: 46.7%-54.3%) win rate for white, based on 459 Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 2.5% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 51.7% (90% CI: 48.8%-54.7%) win rate for white, based on 767 Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 56.0% (90% CI: 53.1%-58.9%) win rate for white, based on 794 Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 2.7% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 51.1% (90% CI: 47.5%-54.7%) win rate for white, based on 516 Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.9% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 50.1% (90% CI: 44.4%-55.8%) win rate for white, based on 205 Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 46.1% (90% CI: 40.9%-51.4%) win rate for white, based on 238 Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 42.7% (90% CI: 34.9%-50.7%) win rate for white, based on 105 Lichess games. Average game length is 39 moves with a 5.2% draw rate.

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

In Bullet games, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 48.4% (90% CI: 45.4%-51.5%) win rate for white (720 Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.6%.

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

In Blitz games, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 50.1%-54.0%) win rate for white (1.8K Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.5%.

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

In Rapid games, the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation has a 52.4% (90% CI: 49.5%-55.4%) win rate for white (766 Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.9%.

Is the Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation a good opening?

The Benoni Defense: Hawk Variation is statistically balanced with a 51.7% (90% CI: 50.2%-53.1%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 1600-1799 Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.