Queen's Pawn Game: Modern Defense with Nc3 — How to Play as Black

You've set up a solid Modern with an early ...d5, challenging White's centre immediately. Now White has several options, and the engine is clear about which one is best: e4, aiming to open the centre while you have a pawn on d5. That's the critical test of your setup. If White plays something else, you might even be the one who ends up better. Let's look at the most popular replies and what the statistics say about each.

The engine's top choice is 3.e4, which leads to 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6. White believes the open centre favours the first player. Here's the key: the statistics from this position are remarkably even. White scores just 48.2% from 43,011 games — actually slightly below their overall average. That means you have nothing to fear. After 4...Nf6, you challenge the knight on e4 immediately, and White will need to decide whether to exchange or retreat. The resulting positions are rich in play and fully sound for Black. The drill lets you practise this exact line.

The engine identifies three White moves as inaccuracies that lose measurable advantage. The most common non-e4 move is 3.Bf4 (88,348 games), but it's not among the mistakes — White scores 51.3% here, so it's playable. The moves to watch for are these three, each losing between ~0.6 and ~0.8 pawns of advantage: - 3.e3 – an inaccuracy (loses ~0.8 pawns). White's best was e4. This passive move lets you seize the centre. - 3.Bg5 – an inaccuracy (loses ~0.7 pawns). The pin looks active, but it doesn't punish anything. - 3.g3 – an inaccuracy (loses ~0.6 pawns). A setup that gives you a comfortable game. If White plays any of these, the engine says you are no longer worse — you've equalised or better. Knowing this helps you spot when your opponent has been too timid.

Here is a quick reference on what you'll face most often, and how White actually performs from this position: - 3.Bf4 – 88,348 games, White scores 51.3%. The most frequent move. Solid and logical. - 3.e4 – 43,011 games, White scores 48.2%. The engine's first choice, but White's results are actually slightly below average. - 3.Nf3 – 40,364 games, White scores 46.9%. A modest score that suggests Black is doing fine. - 3.e3 – 10,329 games, White scores 42.5%. An inaccuracy — Black scores nearly 58% here. - 3.Bg5 – 8,230 games, White scores 49.0%. Another inaccuracy, but more dangerous than e3. - 3.g3 – 5,618 games, White scores 46.7%. The least common inaccuracy. Notice that White's score drops below 50% on most moves except Bf4. This position suits Black perfectly well — you just need to know the correct responses.