Semi-Closed · a defense for Black

Modern Defense: Lizard Defense, Pirc-Diemer Gambit

5/5
1.d4g62.h4Nf63.h5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Modern Defense: Lizard Defense, Pirc-Diemer Gambit4.6k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
79%3.6k50%
11%48144%
4.4%20244%
2.1%9543%
1.7%7942%
0.4%1853%
0.4%1825%
0.3%1443%
0.2%1136%
0.2%1132%
Famous games in this line7 master games
Sichinava, Z. (2298)Matlakov, M. (2686)2016½–½David, Alberto (2455)Kantsler, Boris (2495)19970–1Samovojska, Damir (2355)Dizdar, Goran (2535)19950–1Casagrande, Harald (2365)Lau, Ralf (2510)19960–1Novik, Maxim (2490)Klimakovs, Sergejs (2287)20050–1Mukic, Josko (2365)Sarno, Spartaco (2412)20020–1Casagrande, Harald (2385)Rolletschek, Heinrich (2370)1995½–½
Heroes of this opening Kantsler, Boris · Dizdar, Goran · Lau, Ralf · Klimakovs, Sergejs
Category
Semi-Closed
First move
1.d4
ECO
A40
Line
1. d4 g6 2. h4 Nf6 3. h5
GambitFianchettoHypermodern
Read the guide: Modern DefenseExplore all 40 Modern Defense lines
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
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.

Study this opening