Modern defense

	a	b	c	d	e	f	G	H
8th									8th
7th									7th
6th									6th
5									5
4th									4th
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	G	H

The modern defense after 1.… g7 – g6

The modern defense , also called Robatsch defense (after Karl Robatsch ), is an opening of the chess game . It is one of the semi-open games and is classified in the ECO codes under the key B06.

It starts with the trains:

1. e2-e4 g7-g6

The modern defense has an independent meaning when Black holds back the development of the knight on g8 and with the fianchetto of the bishop on g7 builds up pressure on White's d4 pawn at an early stage . Additional pressure arises directly in connection with Nb8 – c6, e7 – e5, c7 – c5 or indirectly with the pegging of an Nf3 by Bg4.

By holding back the knight on g8, White can take other options than in the Pirc-Ufimzew defense , for example also playing c2 – c4 or c2 – c3.

Against white superstructures with a voluntary 3rd or 4th Nb1 – c3, among others, Tiger Hillarp Persson propagates after 3.… d7 – d6 4.… a7 – a6. This is intended to gain space on the queenside with Nb8 – d7, c7 – c5, b7 – b5, Bc8 – b7. This structure is similar to the hippopotamus opening .

With early Ng8-f6 the game goes through diverter almost always in the Pirc Defense or, if played White c2-c4, in the King's Indian Defense over.

designation

Robatsch himself rejected the term modern defense and preferred the term Robatsch defense : “Some theorists who should not be taken seriously from a technical point of view try to advertise the move g6 as a modern, collective-invented opening.” In doing so, these theorists relied on games from the years 1965 to 1976. On the other hand, Robatsch argues that his own game material shows that he used the opening between 1945 and 1976 - at a time when this opening was "frowned upon and ridiculed".

variants

The mostly used 2nd move d2 – d4 by White can lead to other opening systems after a few moves:

• 2. d2-d4 Bf8-g7
  • 3. Sb1-c3 d7-d6
    • 4. f2 – f4 Ng8 – f6 (transfer to the three pawn attack of the Pirc-Ufimzew defense , ECO B09)
      The independent continuation 4.… c7 – c6 plans after 5. Ng1 – f3 Bc8 – g4 6. Bc1 – e3 pressure on the Points d4 and b2 through 6.… Qd8 – b6. 4.… a7 – a6 also remains Modern Defense.
    • 4. Bc1 – e3 Ng8 – f6 (transfer to Pirc-Ufimzew-Defense , ECO B07), other continuations: 4.… a7 – a6, e.g. B. Example game Sanakojew vs Umansky or 4.… c7 – c6.
    • 4. Ng1 – f3 Ng8 – f6 (transfer to the classical system of the Pirc-Ufimzew defense , ECO B08)
      The independent continuation 4.… Bc8 – g4 puts d4 indirectly under pressure.
    • 4. h2 – h4 attacks directly. 4.… Ng8 – f6 leads to the Pirc Ufimzew defense .
  • 3. Nb1 – c3 c7 – c6 4. f2 – f4 d7 – d5 5. e4 – e5 (transfer to Caro-Kann defense , ECO B15)
  • The structure 3. c2 – c4 d7 – d6 (3.… Nb8 – c6 4. d4 – d5 Nc6 – d4 5. Bc1 – e3 e7 – e5 works because of 6. Be3xd4 e5xd4 7. Ng1 – f3 c7 – c5 8. d5xc6 ep d7xc6) 4. Nb1 – c3 is ascribed to Juri Lwowitsch Awerbach . Black has the choice between
    • 4.… Ng8 – f6 with transition to the King's Indian Defense (ECO E70-E99).
    • the independent continuation 4.… Nb8 – c6 with the possible sequence 5. Bc1 – e3 e7 – e5 6. d4 – d5 Nc6 – e7 7. g2 – g4 f7 – f5 8. g4xf5 g6xf5 9. Qd1 – h5 + Ne7 – g6 10 e4xf5 Qd8-h4 11. Qh5xh4 Ng6xh4 12. Nc3-b5 Ke8-d8.
    • the also independent 4.… e7 – e5. Here you can search 5. d4 d5 f7-f5 immediately tried because h5-Dd1 Ke8-f8 Black with Ng8-f6 + a to 6 e4xf5 g6xf5 7. pace will win and in the center is superior. After that Black plans Qd8 – e8 – g6. 5. d4xe5 d6xe5 6. Qd1xd8 + Ke8xd8 7. f2 – f4 is directed against the black king.
  • 3. c2 – c4 c7 – c5 4. Ng1 – f3 (4. d4 – d5 leads to the Benoni defense ) c5xd4 5. Nf3xd4 Nb8 – c6 (transfer to the Maroczy system of the "accelerated dragon" , ECO B37)
  • The structure 3. Ng1 – f3 keeps moves of the pawn c2 open. After 3.… d7 – d6 4. Bf1 – c4 Nb8 – d7 ?? mandatory because of 5. Bc4xf7 + Ke8xf7 6. Nf3 – g5 + Kf7 – e8 7. Ng5 – e6 with queen win. 4.… Ng8 – f6 wants to castle quickly. 5. Qd1 – e2 covers and prepares e4 – e5. 5.… c7 – c6 6. e4 – e5 evades this and leads to the modern variant of the Alekhine defense .
  • The structure advocated by Efim Geller 3. c2 – c3 can be countered with 3.… d7 – d5 or 3.… Ng8 – f6 in addition to the conventional d7 – d6.
• 2. d2 – d4 Ng8 – f6 ?! 3. e4 – e5 Nf6 – h5 (“Norwegian” or also known as “North Sea Defense”, already played at grandmaster level by Alexander Morosewitsch and Magnus Carlsen )
• 2. d2-d4 c7-c6
  • 3. Nb1 – c3 d7 – d5 (often arises from the Caro-Kann defense , ECO B15)
  • 3. Ng1-f3 d7-d5 4. Nb1-d2 Lc8-g4 5. c2-c3

Other continuations (in comparison to 2. d2 – d4 these - mostly also based on moving changes - are rarely used)

• 2. Ng1 – f3 c7 – c5 (transition to the Sicilian Defense , ECO B27)
• 2. c2-c4 e7-e5

literature

• Nigel Davies : Starting out: Secrets of Modern Defense. Everyman Chess, 2008, ISBN 978-1-85744-566-4 .
• Tiger Hillarp Persson : Tiger's Modern. Quality Chess, 2005, ISBN 91-975243-6-0 .
• Jonathan Speelman , Neil McDonald: Modern Defense. Everyman Chess, 2000, ISBN 1-85744-281-4 .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Klaus Lindörfer: Large chess dictionary. 3. Edition. Mosaik Verlag, Munich 1984, ISBN 84-499-8080-1 , p. 212. Robatsch himself wrote the entry about the Robatsch defense.