Modern Defense: all variations and ECO codes
39 named lines across 7 ECO codes (A04–B27), spanning ECO volumes A, B. Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.
The idea
Black fianchettoes immediately and delays every other decision, content to let White build a full classical center and undermine it later with c5 or e5. It’s the same hypermodern bet the King’s Indian and Pirc make against 1.d4/1.e4, played here in its most flexible, least committal form.
The main line
How the main line scores at your rating
Real Lichess win rates for 1.e4 g6, playing as black: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.
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| Rating band | Games | White / draw / Black | Score for black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400-1600 | 2,886 | 46.6% / 3.8% / 49.5% | 51.4% |
| 1600-1800 | 3,612 | 48.2% / 4.2% / 47.6% | 49.7% |
| 1800-2000 | 2,797 | 47.7% / 4.6% / 47.7% | 50.0% |
| 2000+ | 1,627 | 48.7% / 5.2% / 46.1% | 48.7% |
All 39 named variations
Every named line in the Modern Defense family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.
- A41Modern Defense (main line)1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6
- B06Modern Defense (main line)1.e4 g6
- B06Modern Defense (main line)1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7
Semi-Averbakh Variation
- A04Polish Variation1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 Qb6
- A04Pterodactyl Variation1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.e4 Qa5+
- A04Pterodactyl Variation Accepted1.Nf3 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.e4 d6 4.c4 c5 5.dxc5 Qa5+
- B06Pterodactyl Variation Declined1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c4 c5 4.Nf3 d6 5.Be2 Qa5+
- A40Beefeater Variation1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 f5
Lizard Defense
- A40Pirc-Diemer Gambit1.d4 g6 2.h4 Nf6 3.h5
- B06Mittenberger Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d5
- A41Neo-Modern Defense1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.e4 e5
- A42Averbakh System1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4
Averbakh Variation
- A42Pseudo-Sämisch1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.e4 d6 4.Be3 Nf6 5.f3
- A42Kotov Variation1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4 Nc6
- A42Randspringer Variation1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4 f5
- B06Anti-Modern1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Bc4 d6 5.Qe2
- B06Bishop Attack1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Bc4
- B06Bücker Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Bc4 b5
- B06Monkey’s Bum1.e4 g6 2.Bc4 Bg7 3.Qf3 e6 4.d4 Bxd4
- B06Dunworthy Variation1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c4 d5 4.exd5 c6 5.dxc6 Bxd4
- B06Fianchetto Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 f5
- B06Gurgenidze Defense1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 h5
- B06Masur Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nh6 3.Nc3 f5 4.Bxh6 Bxh6 5.exf5 O-O
- B06Modern Pterodactyl1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5
Mongredien Defense
- B06with Nc31.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 b6
- B06with Nf31.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 b6
- B06Norwegian Defense1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6
- B06Norwegian Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.e5 Nh5 4.Be2 d6
- B06Pseudo-Austrian Attack1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4
- B06Standard Defense1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6
- B06Standard Line1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3
- B06Three Pawns Attack1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.f4
- B06Two Knights Variation1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3
- B06Suttles Variation1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 d6
- B06Tal Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 c6 5.Bg5 Qb6 6.Qd2 Qxb2
- B06Westermann Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Bd2
- B06Wind Gambit1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Bd3
- B07Geller’s System1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3
- B27Pterodactyl Variation1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Qa5
Browse more
ECO Volume B: Semi-Open Games (other than the French Defense) → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →
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