The Modern Variation, Panov Variation is a variation of the Alekhine Defense, catalogued as ECO B05. The line runs 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move after five moves.
On the Alekhine Defense generally: A provocative defense where Black invites White to advance pawns, then attacks the overextended center.
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See all 23 Alekhine Defense variations →
The Modern Variation, Panov Variation goes 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3. It is a variation of the Alekhine Defense and is catalogued as ECO B05.
The Modern Variation, Panov Variation is ECO B05. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Alekhine Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3 at +0.31 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move.