# Chess openings: What is the Benoni Defense?

Take your opening knowledge to the next level with the Benoni Defense!

Learning openings requires understanding chess notation, the system for naming pieces and moves. [Get a refresher on chess notation here](https://blog.duolingo.com/chess-notation/)!

## Benoni Defense: 3 quick facts

- The Benoni Defense gets its name from the Hebrew בֶּן־אוֹנִי (Ben-Oni), meaning “son of sorrow,” which was used in the title of an 1825 book on defenses against [gambit](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#gambit) moves. Over the course of the 19th century, the name “Benoni” gradually became attached to the opening, although the move sequence used back then was different from the modern Benoni Defense.
- It’s an aggressive, [imbalanced](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#imbalanced), counterattacking opening for Black.
- While [sound](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#sound), the Benoni isn’t a [grandmaster](https://blog.duolingo.com/how-to-become-a-chess-grandmaster/) staple and is more popular among lower-level players.

## Benoni Defense: the moves

Here are the moves for the Benoni Defense:

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 c5
3. d5

Note that the Benoni Defense can be reached by several move orders, including 1. d4 c5, sometimes known as the Old Benoni.

## Leave your opponents sorrowful

If you’re an [attacking](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#attacking) player on the hunt for a [dynamic](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/#dynamic) opening, try the Benoni Defense!

If you’re looking for more openings, check out [our guide featuring over 30 options](https://blog.duolingo.com/popular-chess-openings/) for every skill level!