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Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation

62K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

44.5%

40%55%
Floor44.2%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 44.8%.

Measured over 62K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

Black comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 3.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 62K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
62K
Best context
50.2% at 2000-2199 Blitz
Worst context
40.4% at 1200-1399 Bullet
Average game length
34 moves
Games that end decisively
97.0%
Draws
3.0%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 9.8% · UltraBullet best · Classical worst

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 34.9% at 0-999, 45.1% at 2500+.

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, UltraBullet: 16.7% expected score (3 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 39.3% expected score (152 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 45.4% expected score (84 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 38.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 41.0% expected score (721 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (538 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 34.0% expected score (83 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 40.4% expected score (1,632 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 43.8% expected score (1,921 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 36.5% expected score (298 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 41.0% expected score (37 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 40.6% expected score (2,681 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 42.8% expected score (4,527 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 42.2% expected score (919 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 51.9% expected score (25 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 38.9% expected score (30 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 42.3% expected score (3,931 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 41.5% expected score (5,703 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 40.7% expected score (1,438 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 44.8% expected score (46 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 41.0% expected score (87 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 43.2% expected score (4,316 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 45.9% expected score (5,215 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 41.9% expected score (1,057 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.5% expected score (38 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 34.2% expected score (46 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.0% expected score (5,272 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (4,911 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 44.8% expected score (598 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 40.7% expected score (20 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 35.2% expected score (12 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.1% expected score (6,310 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 47.4% expected score (4,909 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 45.1% expected score (273 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 44.9% expected score (3,312 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (718 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 43.3% expected score (21 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Benoni Defense
47.5%
Variations (5)
Benoni Defense: Old Benoni
48.4%
Benoni Defense: Benoni Gambit Accepted
47.4%
Benoni Defense: French Benoni
50.8%
Benoni Defense: King's Pawn Line
50.7%
Benoni Defense: Hromádka System
49.2%
Analyze Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation scores 44.5% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 44.2% and 44.8% — from 62K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
62K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate?

Playing the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation, Black wins 43.0%, draws 3.0% and loses 54.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.5%. It rests on 62K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation perform best?

The Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation performs best for Black at 2000-2199, with an Expected Score of 47.8% (11K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 45.3% in Blitz (29K games) against 41.6% in Rapid (4.7K games).

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation?

The Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation has a sharpness score of 97.0 (very decisive), meaning 97.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 39.2%, draws 3.0% and loses 57.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 40.7%. It rests on 250 Lichess games, which average 24 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 40.6%, draws 1.7% and loses 57.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.5%. It rests on 1.3K Lichess games, which average 27 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 40.9%, draws 1.8% and loses 57.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.8%. It rests on 3.9K Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 40.9%, draws 2.2% and loses 56.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 42.0%. It rests on 8.2K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 40.4%, draws 2.5% and loses 57.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.7%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 42.7%, draws 3.2% and loses 54.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.3%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 46.3%, draws 3.0% and loses 50.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.8%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 45.1%, draws 4.0% and loses 50.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 12K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 42.9%, draws 4.7% and loses 52.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.3%. It rests on 4.1K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet, Black wins 37.4%, draws 1.6% and loses 61.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 38.2%. It rests on 219 Lichess games.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 42.9%, draws 2.5% and loses 54.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.2%. It rests on 28K Lichess games.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 43.6%, draws 3.4% and loses 53.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 45.3%. It rests on 29K Lichess games.

What is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 39.5%, draws 4.2% and loses 56.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.6%. It rests on 4.7K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, Black wins 44.9%, draws 3.8% and loses 51.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.9%. It rests on 142 Lichess games.

Is the Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation a good opening?

The Benoni Defense: Modern Variation, Snake Variation is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 43.0% of its games and loses 54.0%. It performs best at 2000-2199. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.