modern opening

any opinions from people on this opening? do you find it effective? what kind of middlegames does it lead to generally? i've been playing the modern sicilian lately, but i am looking to try something different out.

It looks like it will become a King's Indian defense. Probably 4. Nf3 Nf6 to come.

I like em, they can be tricky!  :)

tough because there's a lot of theory? possible traps?

The Modern is slippery by nature, not forceful, and it's easy to fall into a passive and cramped position. It's not an opening that lends itself much to automatic moves.

It may take more study to play well and get good positions than something like the French or Caro, but its flexibility in that it can be used against e4 or d4 or c4, as well as room for creativity, make it a good choice if it suits your temperament.

 One thing to keep in mind, is White's option to play f3 and transpose to a Saemish King's Indian, like it happened in Kasparov-Seirawan http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070409 . There, Seirawan played the first King's Indian in his career!. So you probably also want to study the KID if you choose to play the modern and/or the pirc .

 Other than that, it is a matter of taste, not my cup of tea and very few strong players have adopted it, but it is certainly playable and it is one of those openings players take into consideration when they want a win with Black.

I get so confused with these names

Modern? KID? I thought it was a Pirc.....

Yes is it confusing ,the Pirc and Modern and closly related

Pirc  1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6  Modern 1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 or 2...Bg7 

Pirc, modern are "almost" the same opening, not exactly of course. KID is King's indian defence and White can transpose into it if he plays f3 at some point, and then c4 & Nc3

Modern = Pirc without ...Nf6 (usually starts 1.e4 g6)

KID = Pirc with c2-c4 (usually starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6)

And about 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.f3 -- isn't 3...e5 supposed to be good there?

Actually, the only "big" game that I know of where this transpositional tool (f3) was used was in Kasparov-Seirawan and I haven't read any additional analysis, but tbh ..e5 seems like a reasonable reply but I guess to avoid any opening surprises many players would be happy to go into a KID.

Hey Scarblac, I play f3 lines vs the Pirc/Modern, but usually I'll play 3.Nc3 and probably 4.Be3 before inserting 5.f3.

Yeah, that's normal, but then you can't transpose to the KID anymore of course.

But perhaps I'm confused with 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bd3!? e5. It's been like ten years since I played the Pirc...

thanks for all the replies :)