ECO B06 · Modern Defense

Modern Defense: Anti-Modern

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bc4 d6 5. Qe2

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5… Nf6+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Modern Defense: Anti-Modern (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bc4 d6 5. Qe2, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… Nf6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.355… Nf6 6. Bb3 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. f4 Bg4 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. f5
  2. +0.375… b5 6. Nxb5 Qb6 7. Nc3 Bxd4 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. O-O Nd7 10. h3
  3. +0.535… a5 6. a4 Nf6 7. Nf3 O-O 8. e5 Nd5 9. h4 dxe5 10. dxe5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Modern Defense: Anti-Modern?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bc4 d6 5. Qe2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… Nf6 for Black, continuing 6. Bb3 e5 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. f4 Bg4 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. f5. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 5… b5 (+0.37) and 5… a5 (+0.53).
Is the Modern Defense: Anti-Modern a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Modern Defense: Anti-Modern?
B06. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).