Modern Defense Puzzles

Patterns in this starting set

These counts come from the curated positions displayed on this page, not from a generic opening description.

• Middlegame Tactics puzzles — 15 in this set
• Advantage puzzles — 13 in this set
• Crushing Attack puzzles — 7 in this set
• Opening Tactics puzzles — 5 in this set
• Fork puzzles — 5 in this set
• Defensive Move puzzles — 4 in this set

How to train this opening

1. Identify whose king or center is less secure in the position.
2. Check forcing moves before recalling opening theory.
3. After the solution, connect the tactic to the piece placement that made it possible.

Popular child variations

• Modern Defense Other variations
• Modern Defense Standard Defense
• Modern Defense Two Knights Variation
• Modern Defense Standard Line
• Modern Defense Three Pawns Attack
• Modern Defense Mongredien Defense
• Modern Defense Averbakh System
• Modern Defense Gellers System