1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

1. e4 g6

Shown from Black's side. ECO B06.

Opening guide · an opening for Black

Modern Defense

The Modern Defense starts 1. e4 g6. Black fianchettoes the king's bishop first and delays ...Nf6, which keeps more options than the Pirc Defense. White is allowed to take the centre with pawns, and Black attacks it from a distance with the bishop on g7 and pawn moves such as ...d6 and ...c5.

Games in our sample
58,874
White wins
48.9%
Draws
4.2%
Black wins
46.8%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How the Modern Defense scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 10002,3881.1%48.5%4.0%47.6%
1000 to 11994,4301.4%47.8%3.6%48.7%
1200 to 13998,1661.7%48.1%4.2%47.7%
1400 to 159911,7121.9%49.5%3.9%46.6%
1600 to 179913,7632.1%49.6%4.1%46.2%
1800 to 199910,9452.1%49.4%4.4%46.2%
2000 to 21995,3912.1%47.6%4.6%47.8%
2200 and over2,0791.8%47.6%7.1%45.3%
All ratings58,8741.9%48.9%4.2%46.8%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of the Modern Defense that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Standard Defense

    1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6

    2,502 games · White 53.2% · draws 4.4% · Black 42.5%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Two Knights Variation

    1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3

    2,415 games · White 48.9% · draws 4.2% · Black 46.8%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Three Pawns Attack

    1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4

    1,974 games · White 50.3% · draws 4.0% · Black 45.7%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Standard Line

    1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3

    1,866 games · White 52.8% · draws 3.6% · Black 43.6%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Geller's System

    1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3

    1,510 games · White 47.2% · draws 4.1% · Black 48.7%

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  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Mongredien Defense, with Nf3

    1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 b6

    1,409 games · White 52.1% · draws 5.5% · Black 42.4%

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Ideas for White

  • Take the centre with d4 and develop naturally. Be3 and Qd2 prepare to trade the bishop on g7.

Ideas for Black

  • Hit d4: ...c5 or ...e5 after ...d6, with the bishop on g7 behind them.

Questions

What are the moves of the Modern Defense?
1. e4 g6. In the ECO classification it is filed under B06.
How does the Modern Defense score?
In 58,874 games with it in our sample, White won 48.9%, 4.2% were drawn and Black won 46.8%.
At which ratings is the Modern Defense played most?
Among players rated 1600 to 1799 it is 2.1% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 1.1%, is among players rated under 1000.
Which line of the Modern Defense is played most?
Modern Defense: Standard Defense (1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6), with 2,502 games in our sample.

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