Chigorin Defense, Modern Gambit

The Modern Gambit arises from the Janowski Variation of the Chigorin Defense, 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. Nf3, when Black answers with 4...Nf6. Black does not try to hold the c4-pawn with further pawn moves. The knight develops instead, adding control of e4 and d5, and Black stays a pawn ahead for the moment. White has the central d-pawn and free development as compensation, while Black's c-pawns are doubled and the c6-knight still blocks the c7-pawn. White's task is to use the time to build a center and regain c4 on favorable terms.

The most common reply is 5. e4, which claims the center at once and takes away e4 from the f6-knight. 5. Bg5 develops with pressure on that knight. 5. e3 is quieter and prepares Bxc4 to recover the pawn. The engine gives White a slight edge, and White scores clearly better than Black in practice. Across all three main continuations the results are much the same.