Chess Openings Lab
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Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation

The Beefeater Variation is 3...c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 f5, where Black gives up the g7 bishop to double White's c-pawns and then grabs e4 control with the f-pawn. White has the bishop pair and dark-square chances, while Black aims to blockade and win the weak c-pawns.

Moves
1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 f5
ECO
A40
Engine
+0.77 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
68 games in our lichess sample
White scores
58.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 6.h4 and h5, as in the top engine line, pry open the h-file before Black's king is safe.
  • Rb1 uses the half-open b-file to hit b7 and tie the c8 bishop down.
  • Push e4 to open the center for the bishops; Qa4 and Nh3 support it in the second engine line.
  • Bh6 or Ba3 target the dark squares that lost their g7 defender.

Black

  • ...Qa5 hits c3 at once and forces White to spend a move like Qc2 on defense.
  • ...d6 and ...Nf6 build a compact center that blunts White's bishops.
  • ...e5 locks the center and fixes the doubled pawns on c3 and c4 as long-term targets.
  • ...Nd7 and ...Nb6 or ...Na5 squeeze c4, the weakest pawn on the board.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a structural trade: White's doubled c-pawns are weak, but the two bishops and the dark squares around Black's king are real trumps. White pushes h4-h5, plays e4, and brings a bishop to h6 or a3. Black answers with ...d6, ...Nf6 and ...Qa5, then knights toward b6 and a5 to attack c4. The game turns on whether Black's blockade holds or White opens lines first.

Where the engine's main line heads: White has doubled c-pawns. White's c-pawns are doubled, usually after ...Bxc3 bxc3. In return White keeps the bishop pair and a solid center.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.77: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.77 6.h4 d6 7.h5 Qa5 8.Qc2 gxh5
  2. +0.47 6.e4 fxe4 7.Qa4 Nf6 8.Nh3 O-O
  3. +0.45 6.Qa4 Nf6 7.e4 fxe4 8.Nh3 O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

68 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 58.1%.

2000 and up52.1%

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

How to play against it

As White, open lines quickly with h4 and e4; slow play lets Black win c4. Keep both bishops and use the b-file and h-file. Do not trade queens early, since the endgame favors Black's better pawns.

Questions

What are the moves of the Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation?

The Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation starts 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 f5. Its ECO code is A40.

Is the Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.77 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. A sharp, unbalanced line for Black players who enjoy structural fights, though White has more practical chances.

What is the main idea of the Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation?

Black trades the g7 bishop to double White's c-pawns, then controls e4 with ...f5. White uses the bishop pair, the h-file and the weak dark squares to attack.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is h4, with e4 and Qa4 close behind. 6.h4 starts the h-pawn march and aims at Black's weakened dark squares.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.