This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Opening Name: Queen's Pawn: Modern
Moves: 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5
Description: This opening is a flexible and hypermodern approach where Black allows White to establish a classical pawn center initially, with moves like 1...g6 and 2...Bg7 preparing to challenge White's center from a distance. The move 3...c5 is characteristic here, aiming to put immediate pressure on White’s central pawns, especially the d4 pawn. Black fianchettoes the bishop on g7 to exert long-range influence and fights for control of the center without occupying it directly at first.
Characteristic: The key characteristic of this line is Black’s hypermodern strategy—contesting the center with pieces and pawn breaks like ...c5 instead of occupying it early with pawns.
Attacking or Defensive: From White’s perspective, the opening is more about controlling and attacking the center, while Black adopts a reactive stance but aims for counterattacking chances by undermining White’s center. Black's play is dynamic, blending defensive solidity with timely counterattacks.
Center Control: White initially claims the center with pawns on d4 and c4, but Black actively challenges this center with ...c5 and the fianchettoed bishop, making the fight for central control a key theme of the opening.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Queen's Pawn: Modern, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 6 - Move #6 black
You can also discover how top players used Queen's Pawn: Modern to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.