The Three Pawns Attack | Modern Defense Opening Theory

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!

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

[davidwestwood]

Very interesting. Another opening series, at your usual high standard.

Thank you.

[hazelelloyd]

Nice, I like the idea behind the 3 pawns, I was never a real fan of modern defense though I've seen some really outrageously strong games in this line on Lichess. Good job on this video!

[joshstiers]

2:35 - 3...d6
4:05 4. Nf3 c5
6:34 - 3...d5
10:34 - 3...c6
11:21 - 3...c5

[TimAwesome]

thanks for the wonderful lessons along with the videos in the playlist :)

[enriquesocrates]

Thanks for giving us this new interesting lesson. Regards

[allancao]

Could you talk about what to do when your opponent plays a sideline that you haven't studied or a dubious move in the opening? I played in a 90+30 tournament and I spent around 8 minutes on move 3 because I was shocked by the random opening my opponent played. Also, I won a game as a direct cause of watching your midgame videos! Keep up the great work!

[rachelthomas]

Thank you, very instructive. But I'm waiting for the magical phrase "and this is completely winning for black"... Which defence amongst those you have covered is best for black against e5 (low rated player with little repertoire) so that I can practice it as a priority ?

[tonynorriss]

To solve the problem with the benoni pawn structure after C5, why not take with the f pawn rather than the bishop. This then strengthens the centre pawn structure and opens up a file for the rook. The downside is that the kingside pawn structure is weakened but might still be playable.

[manolisjam]

Excellent video. !! Do you know where can i see a more in depth variation on c5?

[shaashwatkale]

In the d5 variation, can we fianchetto the light squared bishop and later play c5 d4 to open it up?? By the way thank you for the video 😁😁

[wnJhntn]

What's the point in play8ng the modern if white can just play 3.f4 and be slightly better in every continuation?

[FXT]

why isn't 3...f6 a viable move for black?

[arcaninethebest]

Can you do Kings Indian defence or kings Indian attack in the near future?

[fathermartin]

Could someone please explain how in the 3...d5 variation the move c3 by white "prepares" to meet black's c5? I understand that it makes space for the white knight to manoeuvre a3-c2-e3 but in the video it is made to seem like it also counters c5. However, I don't see how this is the case if white simply captures d4xc5 as soon as c5 is played and the c3 pawn is seemingly irrelevant to the move.

[xavierincepierre]

its hard to follow because you are playing as white especially as a new player its hard to recognize the position unless you play as black

[thefastmeow]

aw, this is a huge mood killer, theres really no good response to this as black :(
might be starting to change my mind about the modern...