Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...g6

Modern Defence
	a b c d e f g h 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 a b c d e f g h
	Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppppp1p/6p1/8/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR
	Moves: 1. e4 g6
	ECO code: B06
	Parent: King's Pawn opening

1...g6 · Modern defence

1...g6 is the Modern defence, also known as the Robatsch defence after Karl Robatsch. Black prepares to fianchetto their bishop to g7. It is a hypermodern opening: Black allows White space and a classical centre, hoping to undermine it later.

This is a similar idea to the Pirc, 1...d6. In the Pirc player wants to play Nf6 and pressure e4, but needs d6 first to prevent White from playing e5!. In the Modern, Black delays a decision on the g8 knight and so doesn't need to commit to d6 just yet. They prioritise the fianchetto with with 1...g6 and 2...Bg7 instead (but d6 and Nf6 may come later).

White usually takes the centre with 2. d4 and Black completes the fianchetto with 2...Bg7. After that White has options: usually 3. Nc3 d6 follows, but since Black hasn't played Nf6 to threaten e4, White can try 3. c4, obtaining structure normally seen against the King's Indian defence, or 3. Nf3.

History

The first modern defences were played in the 19th century and involved 1...g6 and 2...e6 setup. That setup was horrible at a time when people were used to playing open, tactical games, and as a result, 1...g6 was considered to be a very bad opening. Its reputation was sealed when Wilhelm Steinitz beat Augustus Mongredien's Modern defence in under 30 moves^[1]. No one knew how to use its flexibility and dynamism to its potential.

In the mid-19th century, John Cochrane played some players from India. The Indian players have an interesting style of play. They responded to 1.d4 with 1...Nf6 and used a setup with a kingside fianchetto, what is known as the King's Indian defence. For the early opening, their pieces were in the last 3 ranks. These games inspired hypermodernism in Europe: players like Aaron Nimzowitsch and Richard Retí claimed that a large centre was a target for attack. Instead, they proposed flexible set-ups with fianchettoing instead of usual ways of development.

At the time, the hypermodernists preferred queenside fianchettos, especially the Queen's Indian. After the Second World War, Vasja Pirc, Robatsch, and Anatoly Ufimtsev began playing systems with a kingside fianchetto. The Pirc begins 1...d6 then 2...Nf6, later fianchettoing Black's kingside bishop. This opening became popular and then people started the wonder, wouldn’t the bishop be more effective if it wasn’t blocked by the knight? And so the modern was analysed and employed by many, even Mikhail Botvinnik. The first system to be employed successfully is the g6/d6/c6/b5 system. The queenside expansion is highly unusual, but it was effective. However, the system that really took off is the 'Hippopotamus'. It has the double Fianchetto, controlling both long diagonals. Then, the pawns are pushed to e6 and d6 to place the knights behind them, not blocking the bishops. Then, the flank pawns are usually pushed to a6/h6. This makes an indestructible fortress, with a barricade on the fifth rank. It lulls white to attack it and overextend, then hit back with a powerful counterattack.

Many other systems were invented, too. The Gurgundize merges the Caro-Kann with the Modern, making it more passive but also more safe and solid. Then, Tiger's Modern was invented. It uses a6 to support the expansion on b5 instead of c6, allowing the queenside Fianchetto to be much more effective. And finally, the Pterodactyl combines c5 with the modern, but it is too simple for high level play.