Theoria
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Modern Defense

Gurgenidze Defense

B06positionaloffbeat

  1. 1.e4g6
  2. 2.d4Bg7
  3. 3.Nc3c6
  4. 4.f4d5
  5. 5.e5h5
409 games50%44%

A Modern Defense line in which Black answers White's f4 and e5 pawn chain with ...d5 and ...h5, producing a locked center and slow maneuvering play.

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About the Gurgenidze Defense

The Gurgenidze Defense is named after the Georgian grandmaster Bukhuti Gurgenidze. Black replies to 4. f4 with 4...d5, and after 5. e5 the center is locked in a Caro-Kann-like structure. Black then plays 5...h5 to restrain White from expanding with g2-g4 and to anchor the light squares on the kingside. White has more space, and engines give White a slight edge. 6. Nf3 is by far the most common continuation.

Popular continuations