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Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation

46K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

55.1%

45%60%
Floor54.7%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 55.5%.

Measured over 46K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 4.3 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 46K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
46K
Best context
59.6% at 2200-2499 Rapid
Worst context
52.7% at 2000-2199 Bullet
Average game length
36 moves
Games that end decisively
95.7%
Draws
4.3%

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.

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 50.0% at 1000-1199, 57.5% 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

  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 13.7% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 54.5% expected score (21 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.0% expected score (13 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 55.9% expected score (7 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (122 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 70.2% expected score (78 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 65.2% expected score (15 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 55.3% expected score (474 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.8% expected score (420 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 73.0% expected score (66 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 73.1% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 52.8% expected score (1,442 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 53.5% expected score (3,008 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 57.0% expected score (298 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.8% expected score (44 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 52.7% expected score (2,699 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.0% expected score (10,753 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 55.5% expected score (903 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 59.3% expected score (90 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 54.8% expected score (5,776 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.2% expected score (13,152 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 59.6% expected score (1,168 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 73.6% expected score (7 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.3% expected score (3,237 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 57.5% expected score (2,157 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 67.0% expected score (87 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 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: Taimanov Variation PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation scores 55.1% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 54.7% and 55.5% — from 46K 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
46K+ 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: Taimanov Variation win rate?

Playing the Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation, White wins 52.9%, draws 4.3% and loses 42.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 46K rated games from Lichess.

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

The Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation performs best for White at 2500+, with an Expected Score of 56.3% (5.5K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

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

For White, the Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 55.1% in Blitz (30K games) against 58.5% in Rapid (2.5K games).

How sharp is the Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation?

The Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation has a sharpness score of 95.7 (very decisive), meaning 95.7% of games end decisively. Average game length is 36 moves.

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

At 1400-1599, White wins 58.5%, draws 1.6% and loses 40.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.3%. It rests on 220 Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

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

At 1600-1799, White wins 53.6%, draws 2.1% and loses 44.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.7%. It rests on 965 Lichess games, which average 29 moves.

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

At 1800-1999, White wins 51.9%, draws 2.9% and loses 45.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 53.4%. It rests on 4.8K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

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

At 2000-2199, White wins 52.5%, draws 4.1% and loses 43.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.6%. It rests on 14K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

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

At 2200-2499, White wins 53.0%, draws 4.6% and loses 42.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.4%. It rests on 20K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

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

At 2500+, White wins 53.5%, draws 5.6% and loses 40.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.3%. It rests on 5.5K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

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

In Bullet, White wins 52.5%, draws 3.5% and loses 44.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.3%. It rests on 14K Lichess games.

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

In Blitz, White wins 52.8%, draws 4.5% and loses 42.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 30K Lichess games.

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

In Rapid, White wins 55.5%, draws 5.9% and loses 38.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.5%. It rests on 2.5K Lichess games.

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

In Classical, White wins 54.0%, draws 6.8% and loses 39.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.4%. It rests on 153 Lichess games.

Is the Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation a good opening?

The Benoni Defense: Taimanov Variation is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 52.9% of its games and loses 42.8%. It performs best at 2500+. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.