Theoria
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Modern Defense

Randspringer Variation

A42aggressiveoffbeat

  1. 1.d4g6
  2. 2.c4Bg7
  3. 3.Nc3d6
  4. 4.e4f5
726 games46%49%

A Modern Defense line against White's c4-d4-e4 center in which Black strikes at e4 at once with 4...f5, giving a sharp, Dutch-flavored fight.

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About the Randspringer Variation

The Randspringer Variation arises from the Averbakh-type position after 1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4, where Black, instead of ...Nf6 or ...Nc6, challenges the broad center immediately with 4...f5. The pawn thrust weakens Black's kingside, and engines give White a clear advantage. The usual answer is 5. exf5, with 5. Nf3 and 5. f3 also common; in practice results are close to even.

Popular continuations