Anonymous3 wrote on 08/01/11 at 08:16:26:

Sure it is. Like Chk wrote, 6.e5 is to be considered too. Finally there is 5...c6 to deal with, eg 6.Bb3 o-o 7.o-o a5 8.e5 like Tal-Garcia, Leningrad 177.

Is the following line a respectable system? 1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Qe2 0-0 6. 0-0 with ideas of c3 and Nbd2 (or Nc3 if Black allows transposition to favorable Pirc lines for White).

I believe your talking about 1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.c3 but I don't know why this would be called the "triangle". White would need the pawn on e3 for it to be called the "triangle". Doesn't 3.c3 allow Black to equalize with 3...d5!, as recommended in Charlie Storey's book "The Sniper"?

After 1.d4 g6, are there any good ways to play against the Modern that don't allow Black to transpose to the Pirc or King's Indian? The only system I know of is transposing to Larry Kaufman's recommendation in his book "The Chess Advantage in Black and White" with  2.e4 followed by 2...Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Bd3 (this system can't be reached via the Pirc move-order 1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Bd3 because of 3...e5! 4.c3 d5!). Kaufman has this leading to an advantage for White. However, even if it is better for White, I find it hard to find a good plan and know where to move.