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Modern Defense: Bishop Attack: what should White play?
Best move
e5+0.40
By playing e5, you immediately challenge the center and disrupt Black's coordination. This move forces the f6 to move and creates a central tension that favors your active piece…
- Games played
- 132K
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +0.40
- Depth
- 22
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why e5 is the best move
e5! — Excellent Choice!
✅ One of 2 top moves — you found a winning strategy!
Why this move is excellent:
By playing e5, you immediately challenge the center and disrupt Black's coordination. This move forces the f6 to move and creates a central tension that favors your active piece placement.
Multiple Valid Strategies
| Move | Eval | Style / Strategic Idea |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | +0.40 | Aggressive: Seizes space and forces immediate central resolution. |
| O-O | +0.31 | Solid: Prioritizes king safety before initiating central action. |
Different paths, same destination: While most players (31%) instinctively choose the safety of O-O, your choice of e5 is a high-level alternative found by only 15% of humans. You opted for immediate pressure, whereas castling would have led to a more patient, positional struggle. Both are objectively excellent!
Your Continuation
After e5:
dxe5 dxe5 Nd5 h3
What Made This Move Good
You correctly saw: The tactical geometry of the e5 push. By attacking the d6 and the f6 simultaneously, you force Black into a sequence of exchanges that clarifies the center while maintaining your slight space advantage.
📚 Takeaway: In positions with multiple good moves, trust your style! Whether you prefer the immediate punch of e5 or the stability of O-O, you've demonstrated great positional awareness.
What else gets played here
Move choices from 132K games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-O | +0.31 | 53K | 54% | |
| e5Engine pick | +0.40 | 45K | 59% | |
| h3 | +0.20 | 15K | 53% | |
| c3 | +0.24 | 12K | 51% | |
| Nc3 | +0.14 | 8.1K | 54% |
More positions in the Modern Defense
- Best moved4Pawn d2 → d4Modern Defense126M games
- Best moveBe3Bishop c1 → e3Modern Defense: Two Knights Variation, Suttles Variation1.02M games
- Best movee5Pawn e4 → e5Modern Defense939K games
- Best moved6Pawn d7 → d6Modern Defense: Standard Line148K games
- Best moveNc3Knight b1 → c3Modern Defense: Bishop Attack95K games
- Best moveb5Pawn b7 → b5Modern Defense: Two Knights Variation70K games
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the Modern Defense: Bishop Attack?
e5 (+0.40). By playing e5, you immediately challenge the center and disrupt Black's coordination. This move forces the f6 to move and creates a central tension that favors your active piece…
Why is e5 the best move here?
By playing e5, you immediately challenge the center and disrupt Black's coordination. This move forces the f6 to move and creates a central tension that favors your active piece placement.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 132K times in the opening book.