Chess opening · ECO A40
Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense
By playing 1...g6 against the queen's pawn, Black readies a fianchetto and keeps the g8 knight at home for now. The bishop on g7 will look straight at d4. Black lets White occupy the center with pawns and plans to hit it later with ...c5, ...e5 or ...d6 and ...Nf6, depending on what White builds.
- Rank by weighted share
- #60 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 g6
- 1... g6Opening g7 for the dark-squared bishop sets up a long diagonal from g7 to a1 that runs through d4. Because no knight sits on f6 yet, White can push e4 freely, and Black chooses between a King's Indian, a Pirc-type setup or a pure Modern later.
Letting White take the center
White's simplest plan is to grab space with c4 and e4, or with e4 alone. Black does not contest these squares right away. The pawns on c4, d4 and e4 can become targets once the bishop on g7 and a knight on c6 press on d4, and a knight on f6 hits e4.
If White pushes e4 on move two, the game enters the Modern Defense proper, the same position that 1.e4 g6 2.d4 reaches.
When ...Nf6 arrives
Black often plays ...Bg7 and ...d6 and then decides on the knight. Putting it on f6 against a pawn on c4 gives a King's Indian. Holding it back leaves room for ...c5 or ...e5 first and keeps the f-pawn unblocked.
From Modern to King's Indian
2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 Nf6
White has three pawns abreast on c4, d4 and e4. With the knight finally on f6, the position is a King's Indian, and Black will castle and choose between ...e5 and ...c5 to challenge d4.
Top replies by rating
e4 tops the two lowest bands. From 1400 up c4 leads, though e4 stays a clear second all the way through.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | e4 33% | e3 18% | Nf3 15% |
| 1200–1399 | e4 30% | c4 22% | e3 12% |
| 1400–1599 | c4 32% | e4 24% | Nf3 11% |
| 1600–1799 | c4 44% | e4 18% | Nf3 13% |
| 1800–1999 | c4 49% | e4 18% | Nf3 14% |
| 2000 and up | c4 49% | e4 26% | Nf3 13% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.