Key ideas
- The usual setup is ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...d6, with the knights kept flexible. Without an early ...Nf6, Black avoids e4-e5 hitting a knight and can choose between ...c6, ...a6 and ...b5, or ...c5 plans.
- After the Standard Line, 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6, White chooses between 4.f4 (the Pseudo-Austrian Attack), 4.Nf3 (the Two Knights Variation) or Be3 with Qd2 and long castling.
- The Gurgenidze Defense, 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 h5, shows a different structure: Black closes the centre and builds on the light squares.
- Because Black has not committed the knight to f6, the Modern often transposes to the Pirc, or, if White plays c4, to King's Indian or Averbakh structures.
Plans for White
Take the centre with d4, Nc3 and often f4 or Be3, without overextending. A quick Qd2 and Bh6 to trade Black's fianchettoed bishop is a common attacking plan.
Plans for Black
Hit White's centre from the side with ...c5, or with ...c6 and ...d5. Queenside expansion with ...a6 and ...b5 gains space while White commits in the centre.
Watch out
Do not forget f7 while the bishop goes to g7. After 2.Bc4 Bg7 3.Qf3 White threatens 4.Qxf7#, so Black must respond, for example with 3...e6.