Pirc Defense & Modern Defense

The ultimate hypermodern flexibility: neutralize White's central space with flank counterstrikes and the Hippo fortress!

The Pirc Defense (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6) and the Modern Defense (1.e4 g6) are premier weapons for ambitious players seeking asymmetrical, rich counterplay. Across 14 deeply analyzed lines, you master dismantling the Austrian Attack, handling the Classical System, unleashing the 150 Attack, and deploying the legendary Hippopotamus fortress.

Chapter 1: Pirc Defense (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6)

The essence of hypermodern counterplay: letting White establish a massive pawn center, only to tear it apart from the flanks. From the fierce Austrian Attack 4.f4 to the Classical 4.Nf3 and early tactical tricks.

  1. 1. Austrian Attack 4.f4 - Main Line 6...c5! 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O…
  2. 2. Classical System 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O…
  3. 3. 150 Attack with 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 b5! 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 b5…
  4. 4. Byrne System 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 g5! 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 Bg7…
  5. 5. Austrian Attack - Early 5.e5 Push Nfd7 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.e5 Nfd7…
  6. 6. Double Fianchetto 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 O-O…
  7. 7. Punishing the Premature 4.Bc4 & 6...Nxe4! 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O…

Chapter 2: Modern Defense (1.e4 g6) & Hippopotamus System

Maximum flexibility by delaying Nf6: the dynamic 3...c5 strike, queenside expansion with a6 and b5, the rock-solid Gurgenidze System, and the impenetrable Hippopotamus setup.

  1. 8. Modern Defense 1...g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5! 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.dxc5 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 Qa5…
  2. 9. Modern - Queenside Expansion ...d6, ...a6 & ...b5 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.Qd2 b5…
  3. 10. Hippopotamus System - The Invisible Fortress 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 b6…
  4. 11. Modern vs 2.c4 - The Sniper Strike with ...c5 1.e4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.d4 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 Nf6…
  5. 12. Gurgenidze System 1...g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 d5! 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 d5 5.e5 h5…
  6. 13. Modern - Punishing 3.f4 with the 6...Qb6 Raid 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.f4 d6 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3 cxd4…
  7. 14. Norwegian Defense 2...Nf6 & 3...d5 (Inverted Pirc) 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e5 Ne4 5.Nxe4 dxe4…