Opening Overview
Modern Defense
39 linesAbout 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: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Polish Variation
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 Qb6
Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation
1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. e4 Qa5+
Modern Defense: Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Accepted
1. Nf3 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. c4 c5 5. dxc5 Qa5+
Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 f5
Modern Defense: Lizard Defense, Pirc-Diemer Gambit
1. d4 g6 2. h4 Nf6 3. h5
Modern Defense
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6
Modern Defense: Neo-Modern Defense
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 e5
Modern Defense: Averbakh System
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4
Modern Defense: Averbakh Variation, Pseudo-Sämisch
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Be3 Nf6 5. f3
Modern Defense: Kotov Variation
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 Nc6
Modern Defense: Randspringer Variation
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 f5
Modern Defense
1. e4 g6