A42 · Semi-Closed · a defense for Black
Modern Defense: Averbakh System
7/7
1.d4g62.c4Bg73.Nc3d64.e4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Modern Defense: Averbakh System3.6M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
13%456k48%
6.7%240k47%
5.3%190k50%
3.7%132k44%
2.7%95k47%
2%71k47%
1.8%64k45%
Famous games in this line9.3k master games
Praggnanandhaa, R. (2767) – Carlsen, M. (2837)Nakamura, Hi (2787) – Kasparov, G. (2812)Caruana, F. (2795) – Firouzja, Alireza (2762)Nakamura, Hi (2777) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779)Anand, Viswanathan (2801) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2752)Kramnik, Vladimir (2785) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2752)Kramnik, Vladimir (2785) – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2752)Le Quang, Liem (2693) – Carlsen, Magnus (2837)Heroes of this opening Caruana, F. · Nakamura, Hi · Anand, Viswanathan · Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
- Family
- Modern Defense
- Category
- Semi-Closed
- First move
- 1.d4
- ECO
- A42
- Line
- 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4
FianchettoHypermodern
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From the archives
Letting White build the entire center while fianchettoing quietly was considered borderline disrespectful until players like Kotov and later Suttles made it a system. The Modern is the purest hypermodern bet on the board: the big center is not an asset — it's a target.
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