ECO code: B06
Modern Defense: Standard Defense
Moves: 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6
This line of the Modern Defense is characterized by Black's flexible and hypermodern approach, allowing White to establish a strong pawn presence in the center with pawns on e4 and d4. Black fianchettoes the dark-squared bishop to g7 and supports the center with ...d6, preparing to challenge White's center later.
From Black’s perspective, this setup is primarily defensive and aims to undermine and counterattack White’s center rather than immediate direct confrontation. White, on the other hand, takes a more attacking role by occupying and controlling the center early.
The opening involves a fight over the center, but Black does not occupy it directly at first. Instead, Black challenges the center from a distance with pieces and pawn breaks later, making it a hypermodern approach to central control.
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 Defense: Standard Defense, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 31 - Move #6 black
You can also discover how top players used Modern Defense: Standard Defense to leverage key strategies to secure victories in these classic matchups.