Chessy
Hungarian Opening: Reversed Modern Defense as Black
After 1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 c5, you reach a very flexible position where Black has already claimed space and White still has to choose a setup. Stockfish rates this +0.14, a tiny edge for White. That means you are dead level here. The main job is simple: meet White’s next move with good development and avoid handing over an easy pull. Use the drill below to practise the most common choices and see where the engine wants you to go.
Play the Hungarian Opening: Reversed Modern Defense against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill and practise meeting White’s most common choices, then create a free account to save your progress.
Create a free account →What this position is really about
This opening is less about memorising lines and more about choosing a sensible setup against White’s fianchetto. With the centre still open and the queenside not yet committed, both sides can still steer the game in a practical direction. For Black, the important ideas are straightforward: develop pieces, keep the king safe, and be ready to answer White’s central and queenside plans without drifting into passivity.
The engine’s main reply
The engine’s best move here is Nf3. In the listed continuation, Nf3 e6 a3 Nc6 follows, which shows the kind of calm, useful development this position rewards. You should pay attention to how naturally Black’s pieces come out when you do not rush pawn grabs or create weaknesses. The drill helps you recognise this kind of quiet, technical reply and repeat it until it feels natural.
What the database says
This exact position has been played in 674,006 games in the Lichess database, so the opening is far from rare. White wins 47.9%, draws 4.0%, and Black wins 48.1%. Those numbers back up the engine’s verdict: the position is balanced and practical for Black. If you like opening positions where sound development matters more than sharp forcing theory, this one fits well.
Common White tries and what to watch for
The most-played continuations are b3 with 127,211 games, Nf3 with 125,019 games, d3 with 112,035 games, e3 with 104,248 games, c3 with 46,407 games, and d4 with 45,694 games. The important lesson is that White has several normal setups, so you should not expect one forced answer every time. Stay flexible, develop smoothly, and be ready for a position that can shift between quiet manoeuvring and central tension.
The moves that lose a little ground
Three of the common choices are marked as inaccuracies. b3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; d3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; e3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns. In each case, the better move was Nf3. For your training, that means you should know why the engine prefers active development over these slower setups, and be ready to respond when White chooses one of them.
Results across 674,006 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| b3 | 127,211 | 47.8% |
| Nf3 | 125,019 | 47.8% |
| d3 | 112,035 | 48.8% |
| e3 | 104,248 | 47.5% |
| c3 | 46,407 | 48.3% |
| d4 | 45,694 | 46.8% |
Frequently asked questions
What opening is this after 1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 c5?
This is the Hungarian Opening: Reversed Modern Defense, ECO code A00. The lesson page focuses on the position after 1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 c5, where it is White to move and you are playing Black.
Is the position good for Black?
The engine gives +0.14, which is a tiny edge for White. That means you are dead level here, so Black can play with confidence as long as the pieces are developed sensibly.
What is the best move for White in the drill position?
The engine’s best move is Nf3. The listed continuation is Nf3 e6 a3 Nc6, which gives you a model of how the position can develop after the strongest reply.
Which White moves are most common here?
The most-played continuations are b3, Nf3, d3, e3, c3, and d4. The database shows that this is a very practical position, so it helps to know the main setups rather than memorising a long theory tree.
How many games feature the Hungarian Opening: Reversed Modern Defense?
Over 674K Lichess games have reached the Hungarian Opening: Reversed Modern Defense position. White wins 47.9%, Black wins 48.1%, with 4.0% draws — based on real rated games.