The Gurgenidze Defense is a variation of the Modern Defense, catalogued as ECO B06. The line runs 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e5, Black on d5). Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is White to move after five moves.
On the Modern Defense generally: Similar to the Pirc but more flexible. Black fianchettoes the king's bishop early.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
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The Gurgenidze Defense goes 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5. It is a variation of the Modern Defense and is catalogued as ECO B06.
The Gurgenidze Defense is ECO B06. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Modern Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5 at +0.65 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. 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.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4 and e5, Black on d5). Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is White to move.