Modern defense
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Is it useful?
I believe it is, within the strong club player to intermediate master level. It scores well statistically because weaker players often can't punish a defence that cedes space.
Some might not recommend it to beginner level players. They may be right, but you have to find your own way since there will be "experts" who recommend different things to you, and you will still have to make your own mind up...
Mar 5, 2023
0
#3
I would not suggest it for 2 reasons:
1) Black is not the time to mess around. Against 1.e4, the moves 1...e5, 1...e6, 1...c5, and 1...c6 put up better resistance. Against 1.d4, the QGD, QGA, Slav, Nimzo/Queen's/Bogo Indian, Grunfeld, King's Indian, and e6-Dutches are all theoretically stronger. Those are all openings that could last you a lifetime. The Modern gets shaky when you reach master level.
2) This is the bigger reason I say it is a terrible opening for Amateurs. First off, many amateurs think they can use it systematically and that really is not true. They think they can close their eyes and play the same moves, like some will play the hippopotamus setup against everything when it should only be played when White plays a classical setup AND plays a4. Without a4, ...b5 and NOT ...b6 should be played. Black needs to disrupt White's setup and go for the e4 pawn by dislodged the c3-Knight. Also, if White goes Austrian (f4 before Nf3), the hippo is WAY to slow. Black needs to get at the White center and queenside immediately with moves like c5, Nd7, a6, b5, and Bb7. Even how to react to 4.Be3 is different than 4.f4 or 4.Nf3. The second part of the equation is most amateurs play it because they figure they can use it against anything except 1.b3 or 1.b4. This way of thinking has the same problem as the London System. You fail to learn different pawn structures, unlike say the Sicilian or French or 1...e5. For example, in the French, you have the blocked center (Advance and Main Line Winawer), the open symmetrical center (Exchange), the dynamic IQP center (Misces for White - 4.c4 in the Exchange - and Open Tarrasch for Black), and the dynamic center (Anti-Winawers without 4.e5).
I would suggest NOT playing the Modern Defense.
It’s a great opening to look to explore and gain some experience in different positions with different ideas. Just bc you look into it doesn’t mean you made a major commitment. Get a book, play through some games, play some blitz and see what you think….. I played it for a while and went back to the French. But I had a lot of fun with it.
ThrillerFan wrote:
Black is not the time to mess around. Against 1.e4, the moves 1...e5, 1...e6, 1...c5, and 1...c6 put up better resistance.
++I agree here.
Against 1.d4, the QGD, QGA, Slav, Nimzo/Queen's/Bogo Indian, Grunfeld, King's Indian, and e6-Dutches are all theoretically stronger. Those are all openings that could last you a lifetime. The Modern gets shaky when you reach master level.
++The Modern is definitely more playable than the QGA and e6 Dutch, especially with transpositions to the KID or Benoni depending on if it's a favorable structure for Black.
Many amateurs think they can use it systematically and that really is not true.
++True. I did this, although I did know a few transpositions, so it wasn't fully systematic, but my first 5ish moves were always the same.
I would suggest NOT playing the Modern Defense.
++I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a first, second, or even third choice, but I also wouldn't recommend against it.