Modern Defense · B06

Bishop Attack, Monkey's Bum

1. e4 g6 2. Bc4 Bg7 3. Qf3 e6 4. d4 Bxd4

The structure hands White the half-open d-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan. Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it. ...g6 before anything: maximum flexibility, the g7 bishop as the anchor, and the pawn breaks chosen only after White commits.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the Modern Defense.
• 2. Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4, eyeing d5. It eyes f7, the one square only the king defends.
• 2... Bg7 Fianchettoes the bishop onto the long diagonal, pressuring d4 and e5 from a distance.

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