Chess Openings Lab
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Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense

The Norwegian Defense is 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6, where Black hits e4 with the knight before playing ...Bg7 or ...d6. White can kick the knight with 3.e5, sending it to the rim on h5, or transpose to Pirc lines with Nc3 or Bd3.

Moves
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6
ECO
B06
Engine
+1.13 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
574 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 3.e5 is the top engine choice: after ...Nh5, Nf3, Nc3 and Bc4 develop with a clear space edge.
  • g4 can chase the h5 knight, but it loosens White's own king, so prepare it with Be2 or Nf3.
  • 3.Nc3 d6 leads to a Pirc where Be3, Qd2 and Nf3 are natural.
  • 3.Bd3 with Nf3, O-O and c3 is a calm route that avoids theory.

Black

  • After 3.e5, ...Nh5 is the main square; follow with ...d6 or ...d5 and ...c6, as in the engine line.
  • Bring the knight back with ...Ng7 once White threatens g4, then it guards e6 and f5.
  • Against 3.Nc3, play ...d6 and ...Bg7 and you are in a normal Pirc.
  • Avoid ...Nd5 after e5, since c4 chases the knight again and gains more space.

Plans and pawn structure

After 3.e5 Nh5 White has more space and quicker development, while Black's knight is offside. Black builds ...d6, ...c6 and ...Bg7, aiming to break the e5 pawn and later route the knight to g7. White develops Nf3, Nc3 and Bc4 or Be2, castles, and looks for g4 or f4 to trap or restrict the h5 knight. With 3.Nc3 or 3.Bd3 instead, the game turns into a quieter Pirc structure.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +1.13: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +1.13 3.e5 Nh5 4.Nf3 c6 5.Nc3 d6
  2. +0.75 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 c6 5.Nf3 Bg7
  3. +0.43 3.Bd3 d6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

574 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.7%.

under 120053.8%
1200–159957.1%
1600–199950.4%
2000 and up45.8%

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

Where it goes next

  • Norwegian Defense, Norwegian Gambit3.e5 · rare

How to play against it

As White, play 3.e5 and develop quickly; the rim knight is a long-term problem for Black. Push g4 only after your pieces are ready. As Black, prepare ...d6 and ...Ng7 and do not let the h5 knight get trapped.

Questions

What are the moves of the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense?

The Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense starts 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6. Its ECO code is B06.

Is the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +1.13 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 574 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.7%. An offbeat line for Black players who like provocation, but White gets an easy space edge by pushing e5.

What is the main idea of the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense?

Black develops ...Nf6 early and dares White to push e5. After 3.e5 Nh5, White has space and Black must bring the knight back with ...Ng7 while building ...d6 and ...c6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with Nc3 and Bd3 close behind. 3.e5 kicks the knight to h5 and grabs space in the center.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.