Modern: 3.Nf3 (Defence Variation)
Modern: 3.Nf3
Definition
“Modern: 3.Nf3” is a shorthand name for the variation of the Modern (or Robatsch) Defence that arises after the moves 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3. In ECO it is catalogued under B06. White develops the king’s knight to its most natural square, reinforces the e4–pawn and stakes an extra claim to the d4 & e5 squares while avoiding early commitments with the c- or f-pawns. Black, having fianchettoed the dark-squared bishop, stays flexible and can choose from several set-ups that often transpose to the Pirc Defence.
Typical Move-Order & Position
The critical position after 3.Nf3 contains:
- White pieces: pawns on e4 & d4, knight on f3, queen on d1, bishops undeveloped, king still on e1.
- Black pieces: dark-squared bishop already on g7, king’s knight and queen’s bishop undeveloped, pawns on g6 & d7, and the central pawns still mobile.
From here the game can branch into:
- 3…d6 – the most common, transposing to a Classical Pirc when Black later plays …Nf6 & …0-0.
- 3…Nf6 – the Wagner Line, inviting 4.e5 Nd5.
- 3…c6 – the solid Gurgenidze System, planning …d5.
- 3…a6 – the Kotov Variation, holding back …d6 until later and preparing …b5.
- 3…d5 – an immediate central break that can transpose to the Scandinavian or Grünfeld-type pawn structures.
Strategic Themes
Because 3.Nf3 is less aggressive than 3.Nc3 or 3.c4, the arising middlegames are often of a classical rather than hyper-sharp character:
- For White
- Rapid castling (Be2/Be3, 0-0) and central space.
- Flexible plans: c2-c3 followed by Qb3, or c2-c4 aiming for a Maroczy Bind if Black plays …c6 & …d5.
- Knight manoeuvres Nf3–g5–e4/g4 attacking f6 & h7 if Black castles too early.
- For Black
- Delayed but potent central strike with …e5 or …c5.
- Fianchetto pressure on the long diagonal h8–a1 against the d4 pawn once the e-pawn advances to e5.
- Provoking White into over-expansion, then counter-punching with …c5xd4 or …e6-e5.
Historical Notes
The Modern Defence gained traction in the 1950s thanks to Austrian grandmaster Karl Robatsch. The 3.Nf3 line became a favourite of positional world champions such as Tigran Petrosian, who appreciated its solid structure. In the computer era, elite stars Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen have both employed 3.Nf3 as White when aiming for a playable yet risk-averse game.
Illustrative Example
In the following miniature White shows how simple development can punish Black’s over-optimistic queenside expansion:
Black’s pieces are tangled, the c6-pawn is a monster, and White won shortly afterwards (Kacheishvili–Jakovenko, European Club Cup 1998).
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Because both sides keep their d- and e-pawns flexible, commentators sometimes jokingly call 3.Nf3 the “Waiting Room” of the Modern—each player waits to see who commits first.
- When Black answers with 3…d6, databases label the game as a Pirc, not a Modern! Thus, some Pirc specialists reach their pet defence without allowing White the aggressive Austrian Attack (3.Nc3 followed by f2-f4).
- In a 2021 Titled Tuesday, streamer GM Hikaru Nakamura tried 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d5?! and blitzed out a novelty sacrifice, drawing 100 000 live viewers to an opening most amateurs thought “boring”.
Related Openings
- Pirc Defence – same structure but with Black’s knight on f6 by move 3.
- Modern: 3.Nc3 (the sharp Austrian Attack after 4.f4).
- Modern: 3.c4 (the strongly positional Fianchetto Variation).
Summary
Modern: 3.Nf3 is a sound, strategically rich way for White to meet the Modern Defence. It avoids the sharpest theory, keeps transpositional possibilities open, and forces Black to choose a committed structure. Players who like classical development, solid pawn centres, and the option to out-manoeuvre rather than out-calculate will feel at home in this line.