Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Modern Defense: Averbakh System

The Averbakh System of the Modern Defense is 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4, where White builds a full three-pawn center on c4, d4 and e4. Black must hit that wall with ...e5 or ...c5, while White hopes to gain space and squeeze.

Moves
1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4
ECO
A42
Engine
+0.56 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,353 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Answer ...e5 with Nf3 and recapture on d4 with the knight, then Be3 and h4 as in the second engine line.
  • Against ...Nf6 and ...O-O, Be2, h3 and Bg5 restrain Black's kingside play.
  • Push d5 when Black plays ...e5 or ...c5 to lock the center and gain space.
  • After ...c5 and d5, the trade on c3 doubles your pawns, but f4 can open lines for the bishops.

Black

  • 4...Nf6 and ...O-O lead to a King's Indian structure; prepare ...e5 with ...Na6.
  • 4...e5 challenges d4 at once; after the trade, ...Nc6 and ...Nge7 develop quickly.
  • 4...c5 asks White to commit with d5, then ...Bxc3+ and ...e5 for a blocked game.
  • ...Nc6 is the Kotov idea, hitting d4 and preparing ...e5.

Plans and pawn structure

With pawns on c4, d4 and e4, White has more space and aims to keep the center closed with d5. Black's plan is to break with ...e5 or ...c5, then use the dark-square bishop and ...f5 to fight for central squares. If Black trades on c3, White's doubled pawns become targets but the bishop pair gains strength. The fight is about whether Black's breaks come before White's space advantage grows.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.56: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.56 4...Nf6 5.Be2 O-O 6.h3 Na6 7.Bg5
  2. +0.62 4...e5 5.Nf3 exd4 6.Nxd4 Nc6 7.Be3
  3. +0.65 4...c5 5.d5 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 e5 7.f4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,353 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.2%.

1200–159944.4%
1600–199955.6%
2000 and up53.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, don't stay passive. Choose one break, ...e5 or ...c5, and prepare it fully. Avoid ...e5 before ...Nc6 if d5 can gain a tempo. Keep the f-pawn ready for ...f5.

Questions

What are the moves of the Modern Defense: Averbakh System?

The Modern Defense: Averbakh System starts 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4. Its ECO code is A42.

Is the Modern Defense: Averbakh System good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.56 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,353 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.2%. A space-grabbing system for White players who like squeezing, demanding precise timing of Black's breaks.

What is the main idea of the Modern Defense: Averbakh System?

White builds a three-pawn center with c4, d4 and e4. Black must break with ...e5 or ...c5 before White's space advantage becomes decisive.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf6, with e5 and c5 close behind. 4...Nf6 develops and heads for a King's Indian setup with ...O-O and ...e5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.