Chessy
How to Play Against the Modern Defense: Nf3
The Modern Defense is a tricky, hypermodern answer to 1.e4. Black lets you grab the centre, hoping to pick it apart later with pressure from the fianchettoed bishop on g7. When White chooses 2.Nf3 instead of the main 2.d4, the position stays flexible — and a huge dataset of over 12 million games shows White scores just under 50%. But with accurate play you can tip the scales. Stockfish rates this +0.59, a small edge in your favour. That means you are slightly better here — if you find the right continuation. The drill below will help you lock in the plan.
Practice playing against the Modern Defense: Nf3
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Ready to test your understanding? Play the position against the adaptive engine below and practise locking in your advantage with d4. Create a free account to —
Create a free account →What the Statistics Tell Us
From the position after 1.e4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7, the Lichess database holds over 12 million games — and the results are surprisingly tight. White wins 48.3% of the time, Black wins 47.6%, and draws are rare at just 4.1%. Those numbers show that this line is a real fight: Black's setup is solid but not crushing. The good news is that White's most popular move, d4, improves your winning chances to 49.4% across more than 5.3 million games. Compare that with moves like e5, where White scores just 45.0% — a noticeable drop. The data makes one thing clear: how you handle this position matters a lot.
The Engine's Top Choice: d4
Stockfish's best move here is d4, with a recommended continuation of d4 d6 Nc3 Nf6. This is classic central play — you occupy the centre with both e4 and d4, develop the knight to c3, and prepare to bring out the light-squared bishop. Black's fianchettoed bishop stares at your centre, but it has little to bite into yet. By claiming space in the middle, you make it harder for Black to play ...e5 or ...c5 without weakening their position. This continuation keeps your small edge and leads to a normal, comfortable game where your central pawns do the work.
Two Traps to Avoid
The FACTS identify two clear inaccuracies to steer clear of. First, e5 loses roughly 0.9 pawns of advantage compared to d4. Pushing the e-pawn early might look aggressive, but it lets Black trade it off with ...d6 or undermine it with ...f6, and your centre evaporates. Second, d3 loses about 0.8 pawns. It's too timid — you give Black time to complete development while White's space advantage shrinks. Both moves turn your small edge into equality or worse. The message is simple: grab the centre boldly with d4, not half-heartedly with d3 or prematurely with e5.
How to Handle Black's Most Popular Replies
Black's most-played response to d4 in this position is d6, leading to a standard Modern Defence structure. After you play Nc3, Black often brings out Nf6. Here you have several good options: developing the bishop to e2 or g5, castling, or pushing e5 at the right moment. The key is not to overreach. Your central pawn duo gives you a lasting space advantage, while Black will try to chip away with ...c5 or ...e5 later. Stay patient, complete your development, and keep an eye on that g7 bishop — it's Black's main piece, but it needs targets. With the centre locked in your favour, you'll reach a comfortable middlegame.
Results across 12,175,647 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 5,397,285 | 49.4% |
| Bc4 | 3,212,513 | 48.0% |
| Nc3 | 1,592,051 | 48.0% |
| c3 | 592,206 | 47.2% |
| e5 | 543,373 | 45.0% |
| d3 | 297,006 | 46.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Modern Defense: Nf3 good for White?
Stockfish gives White a small edge of +0.59, so the position favours you if you play accurately. White scores 48.3% overall in practice, with Black close behind at 47.6%. The key is choosing the right plan — d4 is best, while e5 and d3 are clear inaccuracies.
What is the best move against the Modern Defense with Nf3?
The engine recommends d4, aiming to build a strong pawn centre. The best continuation is d4 d6 Nc3 Nf6. This gives you a comfortable space advantage and keeps pressure on Black's fianchetto setup. Over 5.3 million games confirm it is also the most popular choice.
Why is e5 a mistake in this position?
Playing e5 is flagged as an inaccuracy that costs about 0.9 pawns of advantage. The push leaves your e-pawn exposed to ...d6 or ...f6, and Black's bishop on g7 suddenly has a target. The statistics back this up — White scores only 45.0% after e5, a clear drop from the 49.4% after d4.
What is the ECO code for the Modern Defense: Nf3?
This line falls under ECO code B06, which covers various Modern Defence setups including those where White delays d4 or develops the knight to f3 first. It is a flexible and popular system at club level.
How many games feature the Modern Defense: Nf3?
Over 12 million Lichess games have reached the Modern Defense: Nf3 position. White wins 48.3%, Black wins 47.6%, with 4.1% draws — based on real rated games.