The Three Pawns Attack is a very effective way to fight the Modern, and it leaves black with weaknesses in his position no matter which variation he chooses!

For an introduction to the Modern Defense, watch this video on the basics: [ Ссылка ]

Watch this video to learn the Austrian Attack in the Pirc Defense, a variation the Three Pawns Modern often transposes to: [ Ссылка ]

The Three Pawns attack is a rare way to fight the hyper-modern Modern Defense, but it’s one of the best and sharpest too. By pushing f4, bringing the third pawn to the center, white is taking up valuable space and leaving black’s pieces with less squares to maneuver around.

The move f4 strengthens e5, f5 and d5, thus giving white numerous options in the attack, and often leaving black with a decision to make. Very often, that is a reason for black to concede to one of two weaknesses; he will either have to accept having a bad bishop on g7 for a long time, or he will have to break open the center with the move e6, thus leaving himself with a permanent weakness on d6 – the so called Benoni pawn.

After 3. f4, black has four options:

3...d6 – this move most often transposes to the Austrian Attack. In the main line black is left with a Benoni pawn structure and white is supposed to be strategically better.

3...d5 – one of the most popular moves, but a move which comes with a significant downside. After 3...d5, white can simply play 4. e5, closing down the center and playing against the bad g7 bishop for the rest of the game.

3...c5 – the sharpest and most active continuation for black. Striking in the center immediately, black is ensuring activity for his g7 bishop by provoking the move d5 from white and opening up the long diagonal. In the long run, 3...c5 also leads to Benoni type structures.

3...c6 – an inactive sideline for black.

#chess #moderndefense #chessopenings

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