Chessy
Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense — play Black here
After 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6, you have reached a sharp, practical position where White to move can choose how to build the centre. Your job as Black is simple in concept but not easy in practice: stay active, meet White’s central play without drifting, and know which replies you must be ready for. The drill below lets you practise the exact position that comes up here, so you can feel the pressure and learn the best response instead of guessing at the board.
Play the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is really saying
This opening line leads to a position where the engine is not kind to Black. Stockfish rates this +1.06, a clear, lasting advantage for White. That means you are worse here, so you should not expect to equalise by passive moves or by hoping White will go wrong. The lesson is practical: you need to know the right reaction and play it with confidence, because the position rewards accurate central play from White and punishes hesitation from Black.
The move you must know
The engine’s best move here is e5. In the line given, it continues e5 Nh5 Nf3 Ng7. You do not need a long memorised tree to benefit from this page, but you do need to recognise that this is the move the drill is built around. If you can remember this one idea and play it calmly, you will be much better prepared than if you try to improvise after White starts expanding in the centre.
What the database shows
The numbers also point in the same direction. Across 297,831 games at this exact position, White wins 54.0%, draws 3.6%, and Black wins 42.5%. That is a tough score for Black, and it tells you this is not a harmless sideline. The most common continuations are e5 in 141,310 games, Nc3 in 94,363 games, Bd3 in 21,505 games, Nf3 in 13,865 games, f3 in 8,247 games, and c3 in 3,124 games, so you should be ready for White to choose one of these main setups.
Common mistakes to avoid
This position has a few clear pitfalls. Nf3 is a mistake and loses about 1.8 pawns, with e5 as the better move. f3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns, again with e5 as the better move. c3 is a mistake and loses about 1.9 pawns, with e5 as the better move. For you as Black, the takeaway is useful even when White blunders: if you know the strongest answer, you are ready to punish the move that slips into your drill instead of letting White keep a comfortable edge.
Results across 297,831 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 141,310 | 55.4% |
| Nc3 | 94,363 | 55.6% |
| Bd3 | 21,505 | 53.1% |
| Nf3 | 13,865 | 47.3% |
| f3 | 8,247 | 46.3% |
| c3 | 3,124 | 47.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense good for Black here?
Not in this exact position. The engine gives White a clear, lasting advantage, and the database score also favours White. That does not make the opening unplayable, but it does mean you should approach it as a position where accuracy matters.
What is the best move for Black in this position?
The engine’s best move is e5. The listed continuation is e5 Nh5 Nf3 Ng7, so this is the key idea to learn in the drill. If you are playing Black, this is the move you should be ready to find.
Which White replies happen most often?
The most-played continuations are e5, Nc3, Bd3, Nf3, f3, and c3. Those are the replies worth expecting most often in practice. The drill helps you get used to the position after White chooses one of these common moves.
Which White moves are marked as mistakes?
Nf3 is a mistake, f3 is an inaccuracy, and c3 is a mistake. In each case, the better move listed is e5. That makes this position especially useful for learning how to meet White’s natural-looking but flawed choices.
How many games feature the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense?
Over 297K Lichess games have reached the Modern Defense: Norwegian Defense position. White wins 54.0%, Black wins 42.5%, with 3.6% draws — based on real rated games.