ECO A40 · Modern Defense

Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 f5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. e4+0.92

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation (A40), reached after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. e4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.92).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.926. e4 fxe4 7. f3 d6 8. fxe4 Nf6 9. Bd3 Qa5 10. Qc2 Ng4
  2. +0.576. Qa4 Nf6 7. e4 fxe4 8. Nh3 O-O 9. Bh6 d6 10. Ng5 Nbd7
  3. +0.556. h4 d6 7. h5 Qa5 8. Qc2 gxh5 9. Rb1 Nf6 10. Rb5 Qa6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation?
After 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. e4 for White, continuing fxe4 7. f3 d6 8. fxe4 Nf6 9. Bd3 Qa5 10. Qc2 Ng4. White is clearly better (+0.92). The next best moves are 6. Qa4 (+0.57) and 6. h4 (+0.55).
Is the Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.92: White is clearly better. That is a large edge for an opening position, so check the engine lines before playing it from the other side.
What is the ECO code of the Modern Defense: Beefeater Variation?
A40. 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+).