A41
Modern Defense
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6
In the Modern Defense, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Modern Defense is a chess opening classified under ECO code A41. It is reached after the moves 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6: 6 moves in, with White to play.
Learn its typical plans and pawn structures rather than memorizing moves — that’s what holds up over the board.
29 named variations branch from this position; the list at the end of the page goes one move deeper into each.
Play the Modern Defense? See where you go wrong.
Deepline reviews your real games, finds the exact moves that cost you, and trains the fixes.
Analyze my games free →Variations of the Modern Defense
- Beefeater Variation1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 f5
- Lizard Defense, Pirc-Diemer Gambit1. d4 g6 2. h4 Nf6 3. h5
- Anti-Modern1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bc4 d6 5. Qe2
- Bishop Attack1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bc4
- Bishop Attack, Buecker Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bc4 b5
- Bishop Attack, Monkey's Bum1. e4 g6 2. Bc4 Bg7 3. Qf3 e6 4. d4 Bxd4
- Dunworthy Variation1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 d5 4. exd5 c6 5. dxc6 Bxd4
- Fianchetto Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 f5
- Gurgenidze Defense1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5
- Lizard Defense, Mittenberger Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d5
- Masur Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nh6 3. Nc3 f5 4. Bxh6 Bxh6 5. exf5 O-O
- Modern Pterodactyl1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5
- Mongredien Defense, with Nc31. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 b6
- Mongredien Defense, with Nf31. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 b6
- Norwegian Defense1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6
- Norwegian Defense, Norwegian Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. Be2 d6
- Pseudo-Austrian Attack1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4
- Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Declined1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 c5 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 Qa5+
- Standard Defense1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6
- Standard Line1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3
- Three Pawns Attack1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4
- Two Knights Variation1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3
- Two Knights Variation, Suttles Variation1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 d6
- Two Knights Variation, Suttles Variation, Tal Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 c6 5. Bg5 Qb6 6. Qd2 Qxb2
- Westermann Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bd2
- Wind Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bd3
- Bishop Attack, Bucker Gambit1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bc4 b5
- Geller's System1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3
- Pterodactyl Variation1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Qa5
Related openings
Modern Defense: Beefeater VariationModern Defense: Lizard Defense, Pirc-Diemer GambitQueen's Pawn Game: Modern DefenseModern DefenseModern DefenseModern Defense: Anti-ModernModern Defense: Bishop AttackModern Defense: Bishop Attack, Buecker GambitModern Defense: Bishop Attack, Monkey's BumModern Defense: Dunworthy Variation