[Event "Modern Defense: Modern Defense: Main Line"] [Date "2020.08.20"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B06"] [Opening "Modern Defense: Standard Defense"] [StudyName "Modern Defense"] [ChapterName "Modern Defense: Main Line"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/UYi6oQth/C05ovygq"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ackerman34"] [UTCDate "2020.08.20"] [UTCTime "12:50:33"] [Orientation "black"] 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 { This is the main line } { [%cal Rc7c6,Ra7a6] } 3... d6 { d6 to help out with the c5 thrust } (3... c6 4. f4 { c6 is not so popular these days but can certainly be used as a surprise weapon } 4... d5 5. e5 { An inferior Caro Kann }) 4. Be3 (4. f4 Nf6 (4... a6 { [%cal Gb7b5,Gc8b7,Gc7c5,Gb8c6] } 5. Nf3 b5 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. e5 c5 8. Be4 Rb8 9. O-O cxd4 10. Nxd4 dxe5 11. Nc6 { Giving up the exchange is a common idea in this setup } 11... Qb6+ 12. Kh1 Ngf6 13. Nxb8 Qxb8 14. fxe5 Nxe5 { [%csl Ga6,Gb5,Ge7,Gf7,Gg6,Gh7,Gg4][%cal Gg7c3,Re8g8] } 15. Bf4 O-O 16. Bf3 b4 17. Qe2) 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3) 4... a6 { a6 -Tiger's Modern f4 - Psuedo Austrian Attack } { [%cal Gb7b5,Gc8b7] } 5. Qd2 b5 { The main idea is to play a6,b5,c5 and challenge the centre sideways Utilising the power of both the bishops on the long diagonals. } { [%csl Yc3,Yd4,Rb7][%cal Yc7c5,Yc5d4,Yb4c3,Rg7b2,Rc8b7,Rb7g2] } 6. f3 Nd7 { Nf6 must be delayed in Modern to prevent e5 push There is a possibility of opposite side castling leading to pawn storms and a very sharp game } { [%cal Gc8b7,Gc7c5,Gg8f6,Ge8g8] } 7. h4 { White has more space .But Black position is solid } { [%csl Gh7,Gg6,Gf7,Ge7,Gb5,Gc5] } (7. O-O-O) 7... h5 8. Nh3 Bb7 9. Ng5 Ngf6 10. a4 c6 11. Be2 { [%csl Gg2,Gf3,Ge4][%cal Ge1g1] } *