Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Modern Defense: Geller's System

7/7
1.e4g62.d4Bg73.Nf3d64.c3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Modern Defense: Geller's System1.5M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
45%676k53%
13%189k51%
11%165k53%
10%158k47%
5.4%82k50%
4.3%65k52%
3.4%51k48%
2.2%34k50%
1.6%24k46%
1.2%19k47%
Famous games in this line2.3k master games
Aronian, L. (2784)Grischuk, A. (2752)20161–0Karjakin, Sergey (2783)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2751)2017½–½Aronian, L. (2775)Wei Yi (2727)2022½–½Aronian, L.. (2781)Artemiev, V.. (2704)20211–0Karjakin, Sergey (2760)Svidler, Peter (2722)2010½–½Wang Yue (2728)Andreikin, D. (2743)2016½–½Gelfand, Boris (2738)Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2726)20121–0Kamsky, Gata (2741)Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2711)20111–0
Heroes of this opening Aronian, L.. · Gelfand, Boris · Kamsky, Gata
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B07
Line
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3
FianchettoHypermodern
Read the guide: Modern DefenseExplore all 40 Modern Defense lines
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From the archives

Letting White build the entire centre while fianchettoing quietly was considered close to disrespectful; Ufimtsev was playing it in the late 1930s, and Karl Robatsch did the theoretical work that turned it into a system — across much of Europe it is still called the Robatsch Defence. The big centre is not an asset — it's a target.

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