Modern Defense Norwegian Defense
Modern Defense
Definition
The Modern Defense (also written “Modern Defence” and historically known as the Robatsch Defense) is an hyper-modern chess opening that begins with the fianchetto of Black’s king-side bishop: 1…g6 against virtually any first move by White, the most common sequence being 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7. Instead of occupying the center immediately with pawns, Black allows White to build a broad pawn center and then strikes at it from a distance with pieces and well-timed pawn breaks (…c5, …d5, or …e5).
Typical Move Orders
Against 1.e4 the opening usually continues:
- e4 g6
- d4 Bg7
- Nc3 d6 (or 3…c6, 3…a6, 3…c5)
If White starts with 1.d4, Black can transpose into the same structure with 1…g6 2.c4 Bg7 followed by …d6 or …c5. Many Modern players are content to use the setup against anything – from the English Opening to Bird’s Opening – treating the system more like a “defensive weapon” than a single, rigid opening.
Strategic Ideas
- Fianchetto pressure: The bishop on g7 eyes the long diagonal a1–h8, discouraging premature central pawn advances by White.
- Delayed central pawn breaks: Moves such as …c5, …d5, or …e5 are held in reserve until they can be played with maximum effect.
- Flexible knight development: …Nf6 can be delayed (or even rerouted via …Ne7) to avoid unnecessary tactics against e5.
- King safety: Short castling is normal, but some lines feature an early …c6 & …Qa5 with queenside castling for a dynamic game.
Historical Background
The opening gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s thanks to Austrian GM Karl Robatsch, whose name is still attached to several variations. Its hyper-modern roots go back further to Aron Nimzowitsch, Richard Réti and contemporaries who challenged the classical doctrine of occupying the center with pawns.
World Champions such as Mikhail Botvinnik, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov occasionally used the Modern as a surprise weapon, though it has never become a “main-line” defense at the very top level. In the computer era, the opening’s flexibility has kept it alive in rapid and online play, where preparation time is short and the opponent’s structure can be steered into less familiar channels.
Representative Games
- Fischer – Larsen, Portorož Interzonal 1958: Fischer’s space-grabbing 4.f4 met Robatsch’s …c5 break; Larsen ultimately neutralized the center pressure and drew.
- Kasparov – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999 (rapid exhibition): Topalov uncorked the Modern to avoid Kasparov’s deep home preparation, yielding a rich middlegame that ended peacefully after energetic play.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The Modern’s first move (…g6) is shared by the Pirc Defense and by certain setups in the King’s Indian Defense, allowing players to transpose between openings depending on White’s replies.
- GM Tiger Hillarp Persson’s book Tiger’s Modern became a cult classic, popularizing unconventional ideas like an early …a6 & …b5 lunge dubbed “The Tiger Modern.”
- Against 1.e4, some club players treat the Modern as a “second Sicilian”: after 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5, the structure indeed resembles a Sicilian Dragon with colors reversed.
Norwegian Defense
Definition
The Norwegian Defense is a specific variation of the Modern Defense characterized by an immediate counterattack on White’s center with the king-knight: 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6. Because the knight hits the e4 pawn before Black has committed to …d6, the line often leads to original, double-edged play quite unlike the more positional main lines of the Modern. In older literature it is sometimes called the “North Sea Defense,” “Odin’s Defense,” or “Norwegian Variation.”
Main Line Move Order
- e4 g6
- d4 Nf6
- e5 Nh5 (most popular)
- Be2 d6 or 4.Nf3 d6
White can also sidestep with 3.Nc3, when Black may continue 3…d5 (transposing to a Pirc-like structure) or 3…d6. The hallmark, however, is that the knight appeared on f6 before the bishop was fianchettoed, challenging the center directly.
Strategic Themes
- Early central tension: By attacking e4 at once, Black tempts White to advance e4-e5, creating holes on d4 and f4 that the knight can later exploit (…Ng7–f5).
- Piece play over pawn play: Black postpones …Bg7 or …d6, keeping the pawn breaks flexible; counterplay often comes with …d6 & …c5 later on.
- King safety complexities: Because the knight may get kicked to h5 and sometimes travels to f4 or g7, Black’s kingside may feel airy until …Bg7 & …0-0 are completed.
Historical & Practical Significance
The variation acquired its name after Norwegian masters such as Olaf Barda experimented with it in the mid-20th century. It remains a choice for players seeking an off-beat but sound alternative to mainstream Pirc/Modern theory. Although elite grandmasters rarely adopt it as a primary defense, it surfaces as a surprise weapon in rapid, blitz, and correspondence chess, where the opponent’s preparation can be sidestepped.
Illustrative Game
Carlsen (2690) – Lie (2540), Gausdal 2004
Young Magnus Carlsen essayed the White side but could not achieve an advantage after 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5. The game coasted into a complex middlegame with opposite-side castling and eventually ended in a draw, showcasing the opening’s fighting potential for Black even against a future World Champion.
Comparison with the Scandinavian “Norwegian Gambit”
Do not confuse this line with the Norwegian Gambit in the Scandinavian Defense (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6!?) where Black sacrifices a pawn for quick development. Both share the same national nickname because of Norwegian master contributions, but they arise from entirely different openings.
Interesting Tidbits
- Some sources group 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 under ECO code B06, the same code used for the broader Modern Defense. Database sorting can therefore mask how often this exact line occurs.
- The move 3.e5 by White is usually answered not only by 3…Nh5 but also by the quirky 3…Nd5!? – an idea popularized in internet blitz; computers show it is playable, though wild.
- Because the knight often re-routes to g7, f5, or even h4, players joke that the piece “goes Viking,” pillaging the center before sailing off to the wings.
- One of the shortest grandmaster wins with the Norwegian Defense lasted only 18 moves: Van Wely – D. Howell, Bundesliga 2010, where Howell uncorked a tactical shot on move 15, exploiting an overloaded White queen.
Mini-Demonstration
Visualize the critical branch with a single diagram/playable mini-PGN:
Black grabs the center pawn later with …d6xd5, illustrating how the early …Nf6 pressure can eventually pay off.