Chess Openings Lab
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King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense

The Modern Defense is 2...exf4 3.Nf3 d5, where Black hits back in the center instead of clinging to the f4 pawn. White should take with 4.exd5 and build a center with c4 and d4, while Black develops fast with ...Nf6 and ...Bb4+.

Moves
1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5
ECO
C36
Engine
−0.12 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,820 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Take at once with 4.exd5; other moves let Black keep both the f4 pawn and a strong center.
  • Support the d5 pawn with 5.c4, then add 6.d4 to grab the center.
  • After ...Bb4+, block with Nc3, develop, and later win back f4 with the c1 bishop.
  • Do not try 4.Qe2 or 4.d3: the engine lines show Black gets an easy plus.

Black

  • Develop with ...Nf6 and aim to take back on d5 with the knight.
  • Hit the d5 pawn with ...c6. After cxd5, the c-file and the e-file both open.
  • Use ...Bb4+ to develop with tempo, then castle quickly behind it with a rook ready for e8.
  • Keep the f4 pawn as long as it costs nothing; it blocks the c1 bishop for now.

Plans and pawn structure

After 4.exd5 the structure tilts toward an open game: White gets pawns on d4 and c4 or d5, Black has no d-pawn and White no e-pawn. White wants a strong center and to regain f4 with the c1 bishop. Black wants fast development: ...Nf6, ...Bb4+, ...O-O and a rook on e8 along the open e-file. If White's king is still on e1 when the e-file opens, Black's pieces swarm. If White castles and wins f4, the extra central pawn matters.

Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.12: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. −0.12 4.exd5 Nf6 5.c4 c6 6.d4 Bb4+
  2. −0.93 4.d3 g5 5.exd5 g4 6.Qe2+ Ne7
  3. −0.96 4.Qe2 d4 5.Qf2 c5 6.Bb5+ Nd7

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,820 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.8%.

under 120057.8%
1200–159955.5%
1600–199953.0%
2000 and up51.5%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Abbazia Defense4.exd5 · 781 games
  • Abbazia Defense, Main Line4.exd5 · rare

How to play against it

As White, play 4.exd5 and follow with c4 and d4. Castle soon, because the e-file opens and Black's rook on e8 can be dangerous. Do not grab more material on d5 if it costs development, and do not play 4.d3 or 4.Qe2, which let Black keep the center and the f4 pawn together.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense?

The King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense starts 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5. Its ECO code is C36.

Is the King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.12 at depth 20, which is level. In 2,820 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.8%. A sensible, low-risk choice for Black players who prefer development over clinging to material.

What is the main idea of the King's Gambit Accepted: Modern Defense?

Black gives up holding f4 and strikes with ...d5 to free the pieces. After 4.exd5 Nf6, Black develops fast with ...Bb4+ and ...O-O while White builds a center with c4 and d4.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is exd5, with d3 and Qe2 close behind. 4.exd5 removes Black's center pawn and keeps the balance; quieter moves hand Black an easy game.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.