Chess Openings Lab
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Modern Defense: Standard Defense

The Standard Defense of the Modern is 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6, where Black keeps the g8 knight home and waits for White to commit. White can aim at the g7 bishop with Be3 and Qd2, grab space with f4, or develop calmly with Nf3.

Moves
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6
ECO
B06
Engine
+0.64 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,770 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 4.Be3 and Qd2, as in the top engine line, prepare Bh6 to trade off Black's best minor piece.
  • 4.f4 leads to the Pseudo-Austrian Attack, with a broad center and an e5 push in reserve.
  • Nf3 instead leads to the Two Knights Variation: solid, flexible and low on theory.
  • 4.Bf4 with Qd2 aims at the same Bh6 trade from a different square, as the third engine line shows.

Black

  • Against Be3 and Qd2, play ...c6, ...Nbd7 and ...b5 for quick queenside play.
  • When Bh6 comes, take on h6 so the queen has to spend a move recapturing.
  • ...e5 against Bf4 gains time on the bishop and fights for the dark squares.
  • Delay ...Nf6 so the knight can choose between f6, h6 and e7 later.

Plans and pawn structure

In the Be3 and Qd2 lines White wants Bh6, long castling and h4-h5, a direct kingside attack once the g7 bishop is gone. Black counters with ...c6, ...b5 and ...Qa5 or ...Nbd7 and ...b4 against White's king on c1. After 4.f4 the plan changes: Black must hit the center with ...c5 or ...e5 quickly. After Nf3, play is calmer and Black often uses ...a6 or ...c6 with ...Bg4.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.64: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.64 4.Be3 Nf6 5.Qd2 c6 6.Nf3 Nbd7
  2. +0.53 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c5 6.Bb5+ Bd7
  3. +0.50 4.Bf4 c6 5.Qd2 e5 6.Bg5 Qc7

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,770 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.2%.

under 120050.0%
1200–159954.4%
1600–199955.8%
2000 and up50.6%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, do not fear the Bh6 trade; use the time for ...b5 and queenside play. Delay ...Nf6 when White has not castled yet. As White, choose one plan and do not mix f4 with long castling without care.

Questions

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

The Modern Defense: Standard Defense starts 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6. Its ECO code is B06.

Is the Modern Defense: Standard Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.64 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 2,770 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.2%. A flexible defense for hypermodern Black players, as long as they know how to meet the Be3, Qd2 and Bh6 plan.

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

Black keeps a flexible setup with ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...d6. White picks between the Be3 and Qd2 attack, the f4 space grab, and calm Nf3 lines, and Black answers with queenside play or central breaks.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Be3, with f4 and Bf4 close behind. 4.Be3 prepares Qd2 and Bh6, aiming to trade Black's key dark-squared bishop.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.