The Modern Opening Way to Break the Center

The Modern Opening, like the Pirc Defense, which it freqently transposes into, allows White great choice in establishing a pawn center. Black will challenge that center later in order to get counterplay. In this game, from Russia's big annual Aeroflot event, White puts four pawns in the center and then advances one of them. While White makes these five pawn moves, Black makes only two and gets two pieces developed. When White decides to grab a pawn with the White king still in the center, Black gets very good play.