ECO A42 · Modern Defense

Modern Defense: Averbakh System

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4

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

4… e5+0.57

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Modern Defense: Averbakh System (A42), reached after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… e5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.57).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.574… e5 5. dxe5 Bxe5 6. Qc2 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be3 Nf6 9. Be2
  2. +0.634… Nf6 5. Be2 e5 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. Be3
  3. +0.664… c5 5. d5 e6 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O exd5 9. cxd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Modern Defense: Averbakh System?
After 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… e5 for Black, continuing 5. dxe5 Bxe5 6. Qc2 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be3 Nf6 9. Be2. White is slightly better (+0.57). The next best moves are 4… Nf6 (+0.63) and 4… c5 (+0.66).
Is the Modern Defense: Averbakh System a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.57: 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: Averbakh System?
A42. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

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