B06 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Modern Defense: Lizard Defense, Mittenberger Gambit

6/6
1.e4g62.d4Bg73.Nc3d5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Modern Defense: Lizard Defense, Mittenberger Gambit75k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
48%36k51%
26%20k54%
7.8%5.8k55%
7.1%5.3k53%
5.5%4.1k53%
2%1.5k50%
0.9%65446%
0.6%46547%
0.4%30052%
0.3%25053%
Famous games in this line497 master games
Vachier Lagrave, M. (2780)Ponkratov, P. (2632)2019½–½Predke, A. (2676)Ponkratov, P. (2632)20191–0Mamedyarov, S.. (2770)Chatalbashev, B.. (2530)20211–0Morozevich, A. (2656)Ponkratov, P. (2630)20181–0Narayanan, SL. (2657)Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. (2614)20221–0Alekseenko, K. (2637)Tomczak, J. (2631)20191–0Fier, A. (2558)Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. (2641)2021½–½Socko, Bartosz (2654)Tomczak, Jacek (2541)2011½–½
Heroes of this opening Predke, A. · Mamedyarov, S.. · Morozevich, A. · Narayanan, SL.
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B06
Line
1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d5
GambitFianchettoHypermodern
Read the guide: Modern DefenseExplore all 40 Modern Defense lines
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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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