ECO code: B06
Opening Name: Modern
Moves: 1. e4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7
Description: The Modern Defense is characterized by Black's flexible fianchetto of the dark-squared bishop with ...g6 and ...Bg7, aiming for a hypermodern setup. Instead of immediately contesting the center with pawns, Black allows White to build a pawn presence in the center, planning to undermine and attack it later from a distance.
Characteristic: The key feature of this opening is Black's delayed direct challenge to the center, focusing on controlling critical central squares with pieces rather than pawns.
Attacking or Defensive: From Black's perspective, this is a somewhat defensive and hypermodern strategy, inviting White to occupy the center first. White often adopts a more classical attacking stance by establishing a strong pawn center early on.
Center Control: White actively occupies the center with pawns (e4) and pieces (Nc3), while Black aims to counterattack the center later. Thus, the opening does not involve Black attacking the center immediately but prepares to challenge it strategically.
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.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Modern, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 15 - Move #5 white