Modern Defense: what should White play?

In the Modern Defense (ECO B06), the position after e4 g6 presents White with an immediate opportunity to occupy the center. The most statistically successful and engine-recommended continuation is d4, which establishes a classical pawn duo on d4 and e4 while challenging Black's hypermodern approach. This move is played in 40.2% of the 126 million recorded games at this position, yielding a White scoring percentage of 51.4% and an engine evaluation of +0.58.

The dominance of d4

The move d4 is the primary choice for White, appearing in 58 million recorded games. By placing a second pawn in the center, White gains significant space and prepares to develop the minor pieces behind a solid structure. The engine favors this approach as it forces Black to immediately address the central tension, often leading to the main line d4 Bg7 Nc3 d5 Nxd5 c6. This sequence demonstrates White's willingness to accept a semi-open position in exchange for active piece play.

Flexible development with Nf3 and Nc3

If White prefers to delay the full central expansion, Nf3 and Nc3 serve as robust alternatives. Nf3 is the second most popular choice, played in 28.9% of games (42 million), and often transposes into English-style structures or King's Indian setups after Nf3 c5 c4 Nf6 Nc3 Nc6. Meanwhile, Nc3 maintains a 51.5% score for White across 13 million games. This move often leads to sharp tactical battles if Black strikes at the center early, as seen in the line Nc3 c5 d4 cxd4 Qxd4 Nf6.

Alternative setups and sidelines

White may also opt for more restrained or specialized systems. The move Bc4 has been played 12 million times (8.2%) and targets the f7 square early, though the engine evaluation drops slightly to +0.22. Another option is the solid c3, chosen in 1.0% of games, which prepares a sturdy defense for the d4 square. In this variation, the play typically continues c3 d5 exd5 Qxd5 Nf3 Bg7, leading to a more maneuvering game where White maintains a slight edge of +0.27.