Modern Defense: Averbakh Variation, Pseudo-Sämisch
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Statistics from Lichess
85,268 games: White 50.2% / Draw 4.9% / Black 44.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 63,29963K | ||
| 5,5025,502 | ||
| 5,2725,272 | ||
| 3,5183,518 | ||
| 1,7971,797 | ||
| 1,6111,611 | ||
| 1,1801,180 | ||
| 894894 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.41 White is slightly better
Best play: 5... O-O 6. Nc3 c5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. d5 Ne5 9. Ng3 h5 10. Be2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Modern Defense: Averbakh Variation, Pseudo-Sämisch (ECO A42, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense, reached after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. e4 d6 4. Be3 Nf6 5. f3 (5 moves).
In 85,268 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.2%, Black 44.9% and 4.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…O-O, in 74% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Modern Defense: Averbakh Variation, Pseudo-Sämisch
The most played answer, 5…O-O, also scores best for Black: 47.8%, with Black winning 45.4% and White 49.7% of 63K games. Of the main answers, 5…c6 scores lowest: 45.9%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5…O-O.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Modern Defense: Averbakh Variation, Pseudo-Sämisch (A42)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/modern-defense-averbakh-variation-pseudo-samisch