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Modern Defense report from your own games

Modern Defense report from your own games

Hypermodern flexibility. See if your counterattacking style delivers.

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Sample Report

Modern Defense Report

40 GAMESSample Data
Win Rate
50%

Performance vs Other Openings

Modern Defense50% Win
Other Openings44% Win

Key Insights

Opening Concept
black
High Impact

Hypermodern Center Control Fails When Fianchetto Is Delayed

What this means
The Modern Defense relies on controlling the center from a distance with ...g6 and ...Bg7, but in 16 of 40 games you delay ...Bg7 past move 4 to play other moves first. When the fianchetto bishop is not developed quickly, White builds an unchallenged e4-d4 center and launches a direct kingside attack. Your win rate with ...Bg7 by move 3 is 58%, but only 34% when you delay it past move 4.
How to improve
In the Modern Defense, the fianchetto bishop is your most important piece — develop it immediately. The ideal move order is 1...g6, 2...Bg7, then decide on ...d6, ...c5, or ...d5 based on White's setup. Do not play ...a6, ...b6, or ...Nf6 before ...Bg7 unless you have a very specific reason. The bishop on g7 pressures the center (d4, e5) and defends the king — without it, you have neither counterplay nor safety.
#hypermodern#fianchetto#center-control
King Safety
black
High Impact

King Safety Compromised in 45% of Fianchetto Structures

What this means
In 18 of 40 games, White successfully attacks your kingside despite the fianchetto. The typical pattern: White pushes h4-h5, you exchange on h5, and the open h-file becomes a lethal attacking avenue. You allow h5 without counterplay in the center 13 times, and your king is exposed in every case. Win rate when h5 is answered with central counterplay: 52%. Without counterplay: 15%.
How to improve
When White pushes h4-h5 against your fianchetto, you must react in the center immediately — this is non-negotiable. Play ...c5, ...d5, or ...e5 to open the center and create counterplay before White's attack arrives. Do not play ...h6 to prevent h5 as this often weakens g6 further. If White has already achieved h5 and you have no central counterplay, consider ...Kh8 and ...Rg8 to prepare a defensive setup. The key principle: in the Modern, flank attacks are answered in the center.
#king-safety#fianchetto#h-pawn-attack
Timing and Initiative
black
High Impact

Counterattack Is Launched Too Late in 50% of Games

What this means
The Modern Defense depends on a well-timed counterstrike against White's center, but in 20 of 40 games you wait too long. You develop passively with ...d6, ...Nf6, ...O-O and only then look for ...c5 or ...e5, by which point White is fully consolidated. Your win rate when you strike at the center before move 10 is 62%, versus 35% when you wait until after move 12.
How to improve
Plan your central counterstrike from move 1. After ...g6 and ...Bg7, choose your target: (1) ...c5 to attack d4 — the most common and reliable, especially if White plays Nf3, (2) ...d5 to immediately challenge the center — risky but effective against slow setups, (3) ...e5 to contest the center directly after ...d6. The key is that your fianchetto bishop must have something to bite on — if White's center stands unchallenged, the bishop on g7 is just a tall pawn. Strike early and trust that the Bg7 will support your counterplay.
#counterattack#timing#central-strike

Top Variations

1
Standard (1...g6)
19 games
2
Pterodactyl
11 games
3
Austrian Attack
10 games

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What we analyze in your Modern Defense games

Your counterattack against White's center

Your handling of large space disadvantages

Your response to the 150 Attack

Your piece coordination from the fianchetto

Your ability to avoid passive play

Key Positions to Know

Critical concepts every Modern Defense player should understand

Center Control from the Flank

With 1...g6 and ...Bg7, Black concedes the center to White and plans to undermine it later. The fianchettoed bishop on g7 becomes a powerful long-range weapon, pressuring d4 and the entire dark-square complex from a safe distance.

Flexible Move Order

Unlike the Pirc (which commits to ...Nf6 early), the Modern Defense delays the knight development. This gives Black extra flexibility — the knight can go to e7 instead of f6, and Black avoids specific anti-Pirc systems. The trade-off is that White gets more freedom to build a large center.

The Central Counter-Strike

Once White over-extends in the center, Black strikes back with ...c5 or ...e5 to challenge the pawn chain. The timing must be precise — hit too early and White refutes it; wait too long and White's space advantage becomes crushing. This counter-punch is the heart of the Modern.

Opening Statistics

Original research from 9,664 real amateur games — data you won't find anywhere else.

Avg. Game Length
—awaiting data
Underdog Wins
—awaiting data
Quick Finishes
—awaiting data
Endgame Reach
—awaiting data
White's Edge
+2.9%
Favors BlackEqualFavors White

At 1200-1400

📊White's edge is +2.9% — a slight advantage for White.

How This Opening Changes as You Improve

RatingGamesWhite's Edge
800-10001,257
-7.5%44 /0 /52
1000-12001,637
+0.6%49 /0 /49
1200-14002,058
+2.9%50 /0 /47
1400-16002,236
+1.6%50 /0 /48
1600-18002,476
+1.6%49 /0 /47

Based on 9,664 games · Updated March 2026

Common Modern Defense patterns we detect

We automatically check if you fall for these specific traps.

About the Modern Defense

The Modern Defense (1.e4 g6) is a hypermodern defense allowing White a large center, then counterattacking it. More flexible but less direct than the Pirc.

We analyze your counterattacking effectiveness, handling of cramped positions, and timing of central challenges. We identify where flexibility becomes passivity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Modern Defense analysis

The Modern Defense (1.e4 g6) is a hypermodern defense allowing White a large center, then counterattacking it. More flexible but less direct than the Pirc.
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We analyze your counterattacking effectiveness, handling of cramped positions, and timing of central challenges. We identify where flexibility becomes passivity.
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Use Kingsights to identify your specific weaknesses in the Modern Defense. Our analysis shows your win rate, recurring mistakes, and provides actionable tips. Focus on the patterns where you lose most often and practice those specific positions.

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