Opening Overview

Modern Defense

39 lines
black repertoire

About This Opening

Black fianchettos early and challenges White with flexible, hypermodern play.

The opening usually invites White to occupy space, then challenges that center with piece pressure, pawn breaks, and flexible development.

In practice, the key is to know when to strike at the center and when to keep pieces flexible, because the wrong timing can leave the position passive.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: pressure on the center rather than immediate occupation.
  • Common plans include fianchetto setups and timely pawn breaks.
  • Best for players who like asymmetry and counterplay.
  • Study the transition from setup to active central challenge.

Choose a variation

Modern Defense
B06 4 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7
Modern Defense: Anti-Modern
B06 9 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bc4 d6 5. Qe2
Modern Defense: Bishop Attack
B06 5 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bc4
Modern Defense: Bishop Attack, Bücker Gambit
B06 6 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bc4 b5
Modern Defense: Bishop Attack, Monkey's Bum
B06 8 plies
1. e4 g6 2. Bc4 Bg7 3. Qf3 e6 4. d4 Bxd4
Modern Defense: Dunworthy Variation
B06 10 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 d5 4. exd5 c6 5. dxc6 Bxd4
Modern Defense: Fianchetto Gambit
B06 4 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 f5
Modern Defense: Gurgenidze Defense
B06 10 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5
Modern Defense: Lizard Defense, Mittenberger Gambit
B06 6 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d5
Modern Defense: Masur Gambit
B06 10 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nh6 3. Nc3 f5 4. Bxh6 Bxh6 5. exf5 O-O
Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl
B06 6 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5
Modern Defense: Mongredien Defense, with Nc3
B06 6 plies
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 b6
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