In the Central Variation of the Modern Defense, Black seeks to challenge White's center early while maintaining flexibility. After the exchange on c4, Black aims to develop pieces actively, often seeking to undermine White's pawn structure with moves like ...e5 or ...f5. This variation typically leads to dynamic pawn structures with a focus on piece activity, appealing to players who enjoy unbalanced positions and tactical possibilities.
In the Central Variation of the Modern Defense, Black seeks to challenge White's center early while maintaining flexibility.