Easter Sale

Play the Modern Defence (5h 40min Running Time) 

GM Mihail Marin     April 12, 2022

Labels:

PGN Download Memory Booster Interactive Tests Video Content


Content  (154 Articles)

Introduction and Free Preview  Free
Video Introduction  Closed
Video Lecture 1  Closed
Video Lecture 2  Closed
Video Lecture 3  Closed
Video Lecture 4  Closed
Video Lecture 5  Closed
Video Lecture 6  Closed
Video Lecture 7  Closed
Video Lecture 8  Closed
Video Lecture 9  Closed
Video Lecture 10  Closed
Video Lecture 11  Closed
Video Lecture 12  Closed
Video Lecture 13  Closed
Video Lecture 14  Closed
Video Lecture 15  Closed
Video Lecture 16  Closed
Video Lecture 17  Closed
Video Lecture 18  Closed
Video Lecture 19  Closed
Video Lecture 20  Closed
Video Lecture 21  Closed
Video Conclusion  Closed
The Modern/Robatsch Defence  Closed
Line 1 3.c4 - 4.Nc3 e5 5.Nf3 Bg4  Closed
Chapter 1 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 2 3.c4 - 4.Nc3 e5 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.dxe5  Closed
Chapter 2 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 3 3.c4 - 8.Ng5  Closed
Chapter 3 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 4 3.c4 - 8.Be3  Closed
Chapter 4 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 5 3.c4 - 4.Nc3 e5 5.d5  Closed
Chapter 5 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 6 3.c4 - 4.Nc3 e5 5.dxe5 dxe5  Closed
Chapter 6 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 7 3.c4 - 4.Nc3 e5 5.Nge2  Closed
Chapter 7 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 8 3.c4 - 4.Nc3 e5 5.Nge2 Nc6 6.Be3  Closed
Chapter 8 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 9 3.c4 - 4.Nc3 e5 5.Nge2 Nc6 6.Be3  Closed
Chapter 9 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 10 3.c4 - 4.Nc3 e5 5.Be3  Closed
Chapter 10 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 11 3.c4 - Various  Closed
Chapter 11 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 12 1.d4 - 3.Nf3 4.Nc3  Closed
Chapter 12 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 13 1.d4 - 3.Nf3 4.g3  Closed
Chapter 13 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 14 1.d4 - 4.g3 8.e4  Closed
Chapter 14 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 15 1.d4 - 3.g3 10.Nde2  Closed
Chapter 15 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 16 3.c3 - 4.f4  Closed
Chapter 16 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 17 3.c3 - 4.f4 7.dxc5  Closed
Chapter 17 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 18 3.c3 - 4.Nf3 5.Nbd2  Closed
Chapter 18 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 19 3.c3 - 4.Nf3 5.Bd3  Closed
Chapter 19 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 20 3.c3 - 4.Nf3 7.Bg5  Closed
Chapter 20 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 21 3.c3 - 4.Nf3 7.Re1  Closed
Chapter 21 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 22 3.c3 - 4.Nf3 8.h3  Closed
Chapter 22 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 23 3.c3 - 4.Nf3 9.Be3  Closed
Chapter 23 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 24 3.Nc3 - 4.f4  Closed
Chapter 24 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 25 3.Nc3 - 4.f4 7.a4  Closed
Chapter 25 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 26 3.Nc3 - 4.f4 7.e5  Closed
Chapter 26 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 27 3.Nc3 - 4.f4 8.Be4  Closed
Chapter 27 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 28 3.Nc3 - 4.f4 8.Be4 17.Qd5  Closed
Chapter 28 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 29 3.Nc3 - 4.Bg5  Closed
Chapter 29 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 30 3.Nc3 - 4.Bg5 5.f4  Closed
Chapter 30 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 31 3.Nc3 - 4.Bg5 5.Qd2  Closed
Chapter 31 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 32 3.Nc3 - 4.Bg5 6.a4  Closed
Chapter 32 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 33 4.Nc3 - 4.Be3  Closed
Chapter 33 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 34 3.Nc3 - 4.Be3 6.h4  Closed
Chapter 34 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 35 3.Nc3 - 4.Be3 6.f3  Closed
Chapter 35 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 36 3.Nc3 - 4.Bf4  Closed
Chapter 36 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 37 3.Nc3 - 4.g3  Closed
Chapter 37 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 38 3.Nc3 - 4.g3 5.d5  Closed
Chapter 38 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 39 3.Nc3 - 4.g3 5.Be3  Closed
Chapter 39 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 40 3.Nc3 - 4.h4 4.g4  Closed
Chapter 40 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 41 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 - 5.a4  Closed
Chapter 41 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 42 3.Nc3 d6 - 5.a4 6.Be2  Closed
Chapter 42 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 43 3.Nc3 d6 - 5.a4 8.dxe5  Closed
Chapter 43 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 44 3.Nc3 d6 - 5.a4 9.Nd5  Closed
Chapter 44 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 45 3.Nc3 d6 - 5.Bc4  Closed
Chapter 45 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 46 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 - 5.Be3  Closed
Chapter 46 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 47 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 - 5.Be3 6.e5  Closed
Chapter 47 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 48 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 - 5.Be3 6.Bd3  Closed
Chapter 48 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 49 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 - 5.Be3 6.Bd3 7.0-0 8.Qd2  Closed
Chapter 49 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 50 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 - 5.Be3 6.Bd3 8.Ne2  Closed
Chapter 50 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 51 3.Nc3 d6 - 5.Be3 8.a4  Closed
Chapter 51 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 52 3.Nc3 d6 - 5.Be3 9.Ne2  Closed
Chapter 52 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 53 3.Nc3 - 4.Nf3 5.Be2  Closed
Chapter 53 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 54 3.Nc3 - 4.Nf3 5.Be2  Closed
Chapter 54 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 55 3.Nc3 - 4.Nf3 5.Be2 7.h3  Closed
Chapter 55 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 56 3.Nc3 - 4.Nf3 5.Be2 7.Re1  Closed
Chapter 56 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 57 3.Bc4 and 4.Bc4  Closed
Chapter 57 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 58 3.Nf3 - 4.Be3  Closed
Chapter 58 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 59 3.Nf3 - 4.Be3 6.Qd2  Closed
Chapter 59 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 60 3.Nf3 - 4.Be3 7.Bh6  Closed
Chapter 60 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 61 3.f4  Closed
Chapter 61 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 62 3.various  Closed
Chapter 62 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 63 2.f4  Closed
Chapter 63 - Memory Booster  Closed
Line 64 2.h4  Closed
Chapter 64 - Memory Booster  Closed
Test Section  Closed

59.00 EUR

Play the Modern Defence

GM-Mihail-Marin-fb1e77797f

We are happy to introduce the new opening project of GM Mihail Marin - Play the Modern Defence. After a long period of analysis and research, Marin is finally able to provide you with a universal repertoire that you can use both against 1.e4 and 1.d4. Besides being a highly practical choice, the Modern Defence lies on solid positional foundations. True to the hyper modernist understanding, Black constantly tries to undermine White's centre. Since the strategic imbalance is created at the very beginning, this is a perfect opening for everyone who wants to play for a win with Black.

The current database includes 64 theoretical chapters, 15 interactive test positions, Video Version (5h 40min Running Time), and Memory Booster.

Preview by the Author

diagram-1-540e592f98

I wonder why it did not occur to me earlier that Modern Chess needs a database on the ... Modern Defence! Joke left aside, the  Modern Defence is not that young. The obscure (but rather strong) Indian player Mohishunder Bonnerjee repeatedly played 1...g6 around 1850 against the better known John Cochrane. The two have played many hundreds of games in that period. However, play usually transposed from the Modern to the King's Indian Defence, rightly called by the Soviet magazines "The Old Indian". It is an old opening invented by an Indian, is it not? There were times when the Modern Defence was also named the Robatch defence. The Austrian grandmaster frequently employed it with the black pieces.

Adding to what I wrote above, I did not neglect the move order 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7, when White can play without e2-e4. This way, we get a repertoire against both 1.e4 and 1.d4. (Lines 12 to 15).

Until now, my relationship with the Modern/Robatsch Defence has been rather platonic. For many years I have played the Pirc defence: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6, with pretty good results.

Over the past few years, I have written a book and recorded two video DVDs about it. However, I could not avoid the feeling that in some lines Black is a bit on the edge, needing to remember long forced lines and being exposed to a forced draw sometimes. I considered the possibility of using the Robatsch move order in order to sidestep some of the dangers, but my main problem was what if White plays 3.c4? The irony is that I have played the King's Indian in several periods of my life, but never at the same time with the Pirc Defence!!  When working for this (not small) database, I was glad to find out that even if White plays 3.c4, Black can avoid transposing to the King's Indian and retain good play anyway. This way, the repertoire proposed to the reader is,  as much as this is possible, complete. Why did I make that remark?

Given the huge transpositional possibilities, there might always be some tiny line that escapes the author's attention. However, I am confident that I have examined all the important systems and variations. One specification is needed, though.  I have not examined systems such as the London attack (Is it an attack?! If so,  isn't it the Carlos Torre Attack?!) or the Closed Sicilian, to which White could more or less force a transposition. I am confident that these can be found in other databases. If not, I may fill this gap.

The first important crossroads arises after 2.d4 Bg7

diagram-2-d59899d30f

I also cover 2.h4 and 2.f4 in the database.

On the diagram position, White's most popular move is 3.Nc3. This is the typical anti-Pirc setup.  White opts for rapid development, leaving strategic factors in the background.  You know... these 1.e4 players, they do not care much about their c2-pawn, but try to mate you as soon as possible!

The move 3.c3 is strategically consistent but a bit slow. See Lines 16 to 23

After 3.c4, we get the so-called Averbakh System. Do not ask me why. Averbakh played it fewer times than Cochrane against his Indian sparring partner.

Rather tricky move order is 3.Nf3 maintaining the possibility of choosing either a Pirc or a King's Indian setup. However, the last move discards almost all the aggressive Pirc systems, allowing Black to transpose to this opening with 3...d6 followed by .. .Nf6. My main line goes 3...d6 4.Be2 (4.Be3 Nf6 5.Nc3 is another such system. See Lines 58 to 60.) 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.0-0 a6!? We have transposed to the classical Pirc, covered in Lines 53 to 56.

Another major branching point arises after 3.Nc3 d6

diagram-3-cedb47271f

Now, White's most aggressive approach is 4.f4 when we reach the so-called Austrian Attack.

Against the Pirc Defence, 4.Bg5 is dangerous, too, but less effective with the Modern move order. See Lines 29 to 32.

To a certain extent, the same applies to 4.Be3, examined in Lines 33 to 35.

4.Nf3 a6 can lead to a  series of systems, most of them positional, in which Black usually obtains good queenside counterplay. These are the subject of Lines 41 to 50, including the Classical Pirc, mentioned elsewhere in this tree, too.

In the line with 4.f4, the critical position arises after 4...a6 5.Nf3 b5

diagram-4-0943940f3c

Black's play surely is provocative, but the good thing is that he can mainly use his intuition and dynamic skills (with just a few not too long variations to remember). Play is very complicated and White can also be at risk, which is a common feature of most of the lines examined in this database. See Lines 24  to 28. I plan to make the Modern Defence my universal opening for a while. 

Whether I will sometimes transpose to the Pirc Defence or the King's Indian, I  cannot say yet. I wish to get a better perception of this very complex opening and maybe my experience will result in periodical updates of this database. I  had not planned it this way, but the database contains 64 lines. I hope that this will be a good luck charm coincidence.

FREE CHAPTER

Chess Viewer 9O2ZS0C22O9J84DI57F5R5A0EXV4STPD

VIDEO INTRODUCTION