Tree path 2 levels King's Pawn Game › Modern Defense
- Caissa Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Modern Defense B06 you are here
Modern Defense
Overview
Modern Defense is a specific line in the Semi-Open Games family (ECO B06), arising from a recognised theoretical position.
The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.
The line arises from 2 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 g6.
The line is a first-level refinement of King's Pawn Game.
The line has 8 documented children — Modern Defense, Bishop Attack, Monkey's Bum, Fianchetto Gambit, and others being widely played.
Counted recursively, this branch covers 44 sub-variations at all depths.
Explore the position on the interactive board, study its real-world results from Lichess, and challenge the engine when you are ready.
- ECO code
- B06
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 2
- Parent
- King's Pawn Game
- Direct variations
- 8
- Total in subtree
- 44
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
47,533,808 games · White 49.0% / Draw 4.6% / Black 46.4%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 25,071,405 | |
| Nf3 | 10,593,996 | |
| Bc4 | 3,248,619 | |
| Nc3 | 2,655,980 | |
| f4 | 2,645,728 | |
| d3 | 876,112 | |
| c3 | 463,539 | |
| e5 | 460,703 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 00:50:11
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Variations (8)
Show all 44 sub-variations (full subtree)
- B06 Modern Defense 4-ply
- B06 Bishop Attack, Monkey's Bum 8-ply
- B06 Fianchetto Gambit 4-ply
- B06 Masur Gambit 10-ply
- B06 Norwegian Defense 4-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Grand Prix Pterodactyl 8-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Siroccopteryx 10-ply
- B06 Rat Defense: Accelerated Gurgenidze 6-ply
- B06 Bishop Attack 5-ply
- B06 Dunworthy Variation 10-ply
- B07 Geller's System 7-ply
- B06 Mongredien Defense, with Nf3 6-ply
- B06 Norwegian Gambit 8-ply
- B06 Semi-Averbakh Variation, Pterodactyl Variation Declined 10-ply
- B06 Standard Line 5-ply
- B06 Three Pawns Attack 5-ply
- B06 Westermann Gambit 5-ply
- B06 Wind Gambit 5-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Anhanguera 10-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Benoni Quetzalcoatlus 10-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Central, Quetzalcoatlus Gambit 10-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, King Pterodactyl 8-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Fianchetto, Rhamphorhynchus 8-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Western, Anhanguera 8-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Anti-Modern 9-ply
- B06 Bücker Gambit 6-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Gurgenidze Defense 10-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Lizard Defense, Mittenberger Gambit 6-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Modern Pterodactyl 6-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Mongredien Defense, with Nc3 6-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Standard Defense 6-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Two Knights Variation, Suttles Variation 8-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Austriadactylus Western 8-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Austrian, Pteranodon 8-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Pseudo-Austrian Attack 7-ply
- B06 Modern Defense: Two Knights Variation 7-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Anhanguera 7-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Benoni Pteranodon 10-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Rhamphorhynchus 7-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Quetzalcoatlus 10-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Sicilian, Siroccopteryx 9-ply
- B06 Suttles Variation, Tal Gambit 12-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pteranodon 10-ply
- B06 Pterodactyl Defense: Eastern, Pterodactyl 8-ply