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Modern Defense
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Moves 1.e4 g6
ECO B06
Parent King's Pawn Game
Synonym(s) Robatsch Defence

The Modern Defense is a special way to start a chess game. It's also called the Robatsch Defence after a player named Karl Robatsch. In this opening, the Black player lets the White player put their pawns in the middle of the board. This is called the "center."

Instead of trying to take over the center right away, Black plans to attack White's pawns from the sides. This makes the Modern Defense a "hypermodern" opening. It's a bit like letting someone build a tall tower, then trying to knock it down from the bottom!

This opening has been used by famous chess players like Nigel Davies and Colin McNab.

The Modern Defense is very similar to another opening called the Pirc Defence. The main difference is that in the Modern Defense, Black waits a bit longer to move their knight to f6. This small change can lead to many different game paths.

Chess experts have a special code for openings. The Modern Defense is listed as B06 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).


This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

How White Responds to the Modern Defense

White's Strongest Move: 2.d4

When Black plays 1...g6, White's best move is usually 2.d4. This puts a pawn in the center of the board. Black usually responds with 2...Bg7, moving their bishop to a strong diagonal.

Some common ways the game continues after this are:

  • White plays 3. Nc3, then 4. f4, and 5. Nf3. Black often responds with 3...d6, 4...c6, and 5...Bg4. This is a standard way the Modern Defense plays out.
  • Another common path is White playing 3. c4. Black might then play 3...d6, 4...Nc6, 5...Be3, and 6...e5.

Bobby Fischer's Idea: 3.h4!?

A very famous chess player named Bobby Fischer once suggested an unusual move: 3.h4!?. This move tries to open up the side of the board where Black's king is. If White plays h4 and then h5, it can make Black's king less safe. Fischer thought this could be a tricky way to attack.

The Averbakh System

The Averbakh System is a specific way the Modern Defense can develop. It often starts with these moves:

  • 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c4 d6 4.Nc3
  • Or, it can start with 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4

In this system, Black has many choices for their next move, like 4...Nf6, 4...Nc6, 4...e5, or 4...Nd7. If Black plays 4...Nf6, the game can turn into a different opening called the King's Indian Defence.

Unusual Ways White Plays

Because the Modern Defense is so flexible, White players sometimes try very aggressive or unusual moves. One example is called the Monkey's Bum. It might start with 1.e4 g6 2.Bc4 Bg7 3.Qf3. This move tries to put early pressure on Black.

Unusual Ways Black Plays

Black can also try unusual moves after 1.e4 g6.

  • The Hippopotamus Defence is one such system. It's a very quiet and flexible setup where Black keeps many pawns on the second rank.
  • Another is the Norwegian Defence (also known as the North Sea Defence). This starts with 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5. Black moves their knight to the edge of the board, which is usually not recommended, but it can lead to interesting games.

Changing Openings (Transpositions)

Sometimes, a game that starts as a Modern Defense can "transpose" or change into a different opening. This happens when the moves played lead to a position that is also common in another opening.

For example:

  • After 2.c4, if Black plays 2...c5, the game might turn into a Maróczy Bind, which is part of the Sicilian Defense.
  • If White plays 2.Nf3, Black can play 2...c5 and switch to a Sicilian Defense. Or, Black can stick with the Modern Defense idea by playing 2...Bg7.

A Famous Game: Kavalek vs. Suttles (1974)

In 1974, at the Chess Olympiad in Nice, a Canadian Grandmaster named Duncan Suttles played against Czech-American Grandmaster Lubomir Kavalek. Suttles was known for being an expert in the Modern Defense.

In this game, Suttles (playing Black) showed how strong the Modern Defense can be. Even though White seemed to have a good position in the middle of the board, Suttles found clever ways to attack. He eventually won the game, proving that the Modern Defense can be a powerful and tricky opening!

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Defensa moderna para niños

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