The Modern Defence arises in the King's Gambit Accepted after 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5 (ECO C36). Rather than hanging on to the f4 pawn with ...g5, Black strikes in the centre with ...d5.
The idea is to open the position quickly, finish developing and give the extra pawn back, obtaining comfortable play and neutralising White's initiative. It is considered one of the most reliable ways to meet the King's Gambit with Black.
The Modern Defence is a practical, ungreedy approach: Black does not try to hold the material at any cost but backs healthy development and counterplay in the centre.
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