Chessy
Modern Defense: Standard Defense — play it as Black
After 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6, you reach a Modern Defence setup that asks White to choose a plan first. Your job is simple in theory but tricky in practice: develop smoothly, keep your king safe, and be ready for White’s most natural attacking ideas. The drill below puts you in the exact position where the opening starts to matter. Can you handle White’s main tries and steer the game into a playable middlegame?
Play the Modern Defense: Standard Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is really about
This opening is all about patience and flexibility. You have fianchettoed the bishop and supported the centre without locking yourself into an early pawn structure. That can be very useful, but it also means White often gets time to build up a space advantage first. In practical terms, you need to stay calm, develop efficiently, and avoid drifting into a passive setup. If you make sensible moves here, you still have a real game.
The engine’s preferred reaction
Stockfish rates this +0.67, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
The engine’s best move in this position is Be3, and the suggested continuation is Be3 Nf6 Nf3 c6. The message is clear: White wants steady development and a flexible kingside plan, while you need to keep your position coordinated and not let White dictate everything. In the drill, focus on meeting each developing move without creating weaknesses.
What the database says
The practical results confirm that this is a playable but slightly uncomfortable spot for Black. Across 1,747,128 games at this exact position, White wins 51.3%, draws 3.9%, and Black wins 44.8%.
That does not mean the opening is lost. It does mean White’s most common choices tend to give them a small statistical edge, so you should expect a fight where precision matters. If you know your plans, you can still get a solid middlegame and make White prove the extra space counts.
White’s most common ideas
White has several popular continuations here, and they all point in the same general direction: quick development and active piece play.
- Nf3 is the most common try, with 757,601 games and White scoring 49.6%.
- Be3 has 368,875 games and White scoring 54.3%.
- f4 appears in 176,875 games and White scores 53.7%.
- Bf4 appears in 96,120 games and White scores 53.0%.
- Bc4 appears in 75,627 games and White scores 51.1%.
- Bg5 appears in 66,825 games and White scores 56.5%.
You do not need to memorise everything at once. Just recognise that White is usually aiming for an active setup rather than a slow manoeuvring game.
How to stay solid as Black
Your main practical task is to stay organised. Develop your kingside pieces, keep an eye on White’s central and kingside activity, and do not rush into unnecessary pawn moves. The bishop on g7 is your key piece, so make sure it keeps influencing the long diagonal. If White expands or starts a direct attack, respond with calm development first and only then look for counterplay. In this opening, good defence often means simple, purposeful piece placement rather than forcing tactics.
Results across 1,747,128 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 757,601 | 49.6% |
| Be3 | 368,875 | 54.3% |
| f4 | 176,875 | 53.7% |
| Bf4 | 96,120 | 53.0% |
| Bc4 | 75,627 | 51.1% |
| Bg5 | 66,825 | 56.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Modern Defense: Standard Defense good for Black?
It is playable, but the numbers here show that White gets a small edge after this position. That means Black must be accurate and should expect White to have a slightly easier time. If you like flexible structures and can defend well, it can still be a practical choice.
What is the main idea of the Modern Defense: Standard Defense?
The idea is to fianchetto the bishop and build a solid, flexible defence against 1.e4. In this exact position, you have already placed the bishop on g7 and supported the centre with d6. The key is to develop smoothly and avoid giving White free momentum.
What does White usually play in this position?
The most common continuation is Nf3, and Be3 is also very popular. Other frequent tries are f4, Bf4, Bc4, and Bg5. These moves show that White often wants active piece play and kingside pressure.
What should I focus on in the drill?
Try to handle White’s development without weakening your own position. The engine’s top choice is Be3, and the suggested follow-up continues with natural development for both sides. This is a good drill for learning how to stay solid when White gets space and initiative.
How many games feature the Modern Defense: Standard Defense?
Over 2 million Lichess games have reached the Modern Defense: Standard Defense position. White wins 51.3%, Black wins 44.8%, with 3.9% draws — based on real rated games.