The Modern Defense
A Dynamic Chess Opening for Black
- Flexible and strategic: Fight for the center without directly contesting it.
- Active piece play: Fianchetto the dark-squared bishop for quick development.
- Solid pawn structure: Build a strong foundation for dynamic play.
- Effective against 1. e4 or 1. d4: Adaptable to White's opening moves.
- This post is your launchpad to explore the Modern Defense! We've curated a collection of resources to help you understand its concepts, sharpen your skills, and elevate your chess game.
BOOKS (Free)
Short & Sweet: The Modern Defense - FREE Chessable Course -This concise course by CM Vjekoslav Nemec offers 22 trainable variations with 2 hours of free video MoveTrainer® instruction. It's the perfect starting point for players new to the Modern Defense.
Modern Defense Chess Articles
Equip Yourself with Modern Defense Knowledge: Dive deep into the fascinating world of the Modern Defense with this curated selection of articles! We've gathered resources for players of all levels, from foundational concepts explored in comprehensive guides to strategic insights from renowned chess masters.
The Ideas Behind the Modern Defence - ( Exeter Chess Club ) - This comprehensive article delves into the core strategic principles behind the Modern Defense, laying a strong foundation for your understanding.
5 Reasons to Play Modern Defense - ( WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos ) - Discover the key benefits of wielding the Modern Defense in your chess arsenal, making it a compelling choice for Black players.
Strike Back Now With the Modern Defense - ichess.net -This extensive guide by iChess.net serves as a one-stop shop for beginners. It offers a complete overview of the Modern Defense with embedded videos, making it an excellent starting point.
Modern Defense Chess Opening – Deep Dive with GM Damian Lemos - Take a deeper dive with Grandmaster Damian Lemos in this iChess.net article. With video analysis included, this resource provides detailed exploration of the Modern Defense for intermediate players.
How to Win with the Pirc & Modern Defenses – GM Fabien Libiszewski - Learn winning strategies from Grandmaster Fabien Libiszewski! This iChess.net article explores both the Pirc and Modern Defenses, offering valuable insights for Black players looking to expand their repertoire.
Modern Defense LiChess Studies
- Modern Defense - 15 Chapter Study (One of the Nicer ones) (626 hearts) - Different Variations, Common Traps and a few Model games.
- The Modern Defense - 16 Chapter Study - Different Variations Shown
- Reference games - BLACK - B06 Modern Defense - 64 Chapter Study - All 0-1 Games (No Annotations)
New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.
Modern Defense Chess Puzzles
Test your tactical vision and put your knowledge of the Modern Defense into practice with these engaging puzzles.
WTHarvey.com
Chess puzzles from the Robatsch (ECO B06) - 9 Tactics Puzzles - Get started with a set of tactical problems focusing on the Robatsch (ECO B06) variation.
LiChess Opening Puzzles
Robatsch Defense - 69 Puzzles - Dive deeper into the Robatsch variation with a dedicated set of tactical challenges specifically tailored to this sub-opening.
Modern Defense - 13,749 Modern Puzzles -Deepen your understanding with a vast collection of Modern Defense puzzles categorized by variations, allowing you to focus on specific areas of your game. (Broken into 13 Variations on Main Puzzle Page)
Games Databases
365Chess.com
B06: Robatsch (modern) defence 1. e4 g6 - 54,000 Games
B06 Sub-variants:
- Robatsch (modern) defence Main Line 53901 Games
- 1. e4 g6
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 Nh5 4. g4 Ng7 3 Games
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 Main Line
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 1979 Games
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 2951 Games
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5 1142 Games
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 Main Line
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 7793 Games
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 c6 2844 Games
- 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 7172 Games
- Chessgames.com
- Robatsch (B06) - 72 Annotated games
- Modern Defence - 10 Games with Different Plans in the Modern
- Modern Defense Video Lessons
- Modern Defense Opening Theory - 5 Video Playlist - Hanging Pawns (Almost 2 hrs)
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense! -6 Video Playlist - Chess Giant (New - 6/4/24)
- Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense! - 23 Min - Chess Giant
Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Modern Defense with …a6!!!! - 28 Min - Chess Giant - In this video, we look over some of the most dangerous concepts in chess openings for black including the Modern Defense, Pirc Defense, Czech Pirc Defense, and Hippopotamus Defense. These openings may be slightly different, but have many similarities in terms of overall chess opening ideas, chess opening strategy, and chess opening principles.
How To Win with the Pirc & Modern Defenses - GM Fabien Libiszewski - 29 Min - In this video, Grandmaster and opening theoretician Fabien Libiszewski explores the many tactical opportunities and strategic plans available to Black in the Pirc and Modern defenses. It is a free preview of his brand new 8-hour in-depth training designed to give you a lifetime repertoire for Black.
MODERN DEFENSE - GURGENIDZE VARIATION - 20 Min - Introduction to the Modern Defense - Gurgenidze Variation. 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6. Learn how to play with Black pieces against e4 opening. Winning with the Modern Defense.
TOP Opening TRAPS | 🔥🔥 | Hikaru Modern Defense 2021 - 5 Min - Black's set-up: Gurgenidze variation g7-g6 ,Bg7 with c7-c6 and d7-d5- Modern Defence Hybrid between Modern Defense and Caro-Kann where you can set opening traps early on for White. Win quickly with Black following online chess superstar GM Hikaru Nakamura.
Beat the London system | Burn it down with the modern defense! - 19 Min - With all the talking and praising for the white side of the London System over the last years, it´s time to try to take it apart with black. And what better way to do it than simply using my favourite Modern Defense
Beat the Jobava London with the Pirc/Modern Defense - 17 Min - Last time i showed how to beat the traditional London system with the modern defense, and since then i found out that white often tries to counter my idea by using the Jobava system in the london, so today i bring you an antidote against that as well
The Modern Defense | Play the modern by Shirov with ...c6 - 30 Min - Continuing with my favourite Modern defenses, here´s the one Shirov used to play regularly, making ...d6 and then the more unusual...c6, often with the idea of expanding the queen side pawns.
The Modern Defense, Tartakower variation ( or the rat) - 30 Min - This opening was my bread and butter when i started playing chess, and it is now one that i still play and i do so with both colors. The interesting thing for me is to show you my whole story with it, playing it at first with black for more than 7 years, and after that resolving what to do against it with white. Enjoy!
- Play Against The Modern Lessons
- Universal Killer Attack vs Modern & Pirc!! - 13 Min IM Perunovic - Presents a chess strategy known as the Universal Killer Attack, which is effective against both the Modern and Pirc defenses.
Beat Modern Defense as White: Chess Opening Secrets - 3 Min - Coach Kestony - Discover the ultimate strategies to Beat Modern Defense in chess with this in-depth guide. Offers detailed insights and tactics for chess players looking to improve their opening game when playing as White. Learn how to gain an advantage from the start and outmaneuver your opponent in the Modern Defense opening
Super Fast Analysis on Crushing The Modern Defense!! - 7 Min - IM Pernuovic
GM Naroditsky - Naroditsky - Modern Defense - 6 Video playlist
CRUSHING the Modern Defense | Caro-Kann, Gurgenidze System | GM Naroditsky’s Theory Speed Run - 60 Min
Beginner To Master | Chess Speedrun | C3 Vs Modern (Saragossa) | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 22 Min
- Modern defense Game Videos (w/Analysis)
- Playlists
- Pirc and Modern Defence - 113 Video playlist - kingscrusher - Famous and Instructive Games with detailed analysis
Modern Defense - 13 Video Playlist - Jozarovs Chess Channel - Famous and Engine Games w/ analysis
- GM Moulthun Ly
When To Blow Open The Centre | Pirc/Modern Defence | Speed Run Series | GM Moulthun Ly - 13 Min - Key Takeaways: - Again value the Bishop pair even if the position is not yet fully open - Look for chances to open the centre especially if the opponents king is yet to
castle
Preparing A Queenside Attack | Modern Defence | GM Moulthun Ly - 22 Min - Key Takeaways: - A fairly easy attacking setup for Black in this opening is to meet 0-0-0 with a c6-b5-Nd7-Qa5-Nb6 followed by Be6-Rb8-Nc4 attacking ideas - Delay your kingside knight development to stop Bh6 - Go for quick queenside counter play before White attacks on the kingside
Spotting Weaknesses and Setting Up a Queen Trap | Modern Defence | Rapid Training Game - 28 Min -
Unleashing Your Dark-Squared Bishop | Modern Defence Speed Run Series | GM Moulthun Ly - 7 Min - Hi guys, in this series we will do a speed run from Beginner all the way to Master explaining my thoughts along the way.
- GM Bok vs GM Hikaru | Modern Defense | Blitz Chess - 5 Min - GM Benjamin Bok
Extremely Violent Modern Defense Caused The Fire On Board - 11 Min - Chess School - Ivan Sokolov vs Tiger Hillarp Persson Koge op 1997, DEN, rd 7 Modern Defense: Standard Defense (B06)
Modern Defence : Aggressive Pawn Structure : Molina vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Gibraltar 2012 - 20 Min
- THE BEEF EATER | Epic Opening for Black - 42 Min GothamChess (Plays 3 Games of this Variation)
- Leela doesn't mind living dangerously | Stockfish vs Leela | Modern Defense - Averbakh System - 22 Min