ECO B06 · Modern Defense

Modern Defense: Westermann Gambit

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bd2

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

3… Bxd4−0.50

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Modern Defense: Westermann Gambit (B06), reached after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bd2, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… Bxd4 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.50).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.503… Bxd4 4. Bc3 Bxc3+ 5. Nxc3 d6 6. f4 c6 7. Qd2 Be6 8. Be2
  2. −0.143… c5 4. dxc5 Bxb2 5. Nc3 Bxa1 6. Qxa1 f6 7. Nf3 b6 8. cxb6
  3. −0.013… d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. c4 Qd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Modern Defense: Westermann Gambit?
After 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Bd2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… Bxd4 for Black, continuing 4. Bc3 Bxc3+ 5. Nxc3 d6 6. f4 c6 7. Qd2 Be6 8. Be2. Black is slightly better (−0.50). The next best moves are 3… c5 (−0.14) and 3… d5 (−0.01).
Is the Modern Defense: Westermann Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.50: black 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: Westermann Gambit?
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+).