Alekhine Defense

Key ideas for both sides

Plans and pawn structure

If White builds the full c4, d4, e5 and f4 center, Black plays ...dxe5, ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 to hit d4 and e5 with pieces, then castles and breaks with ...c5 or ...f6. White wants to finish development and push d5 or f5 to cramp Black. In the Exchange Variation White keeps c4 and d4 and develops normally, while Black aims pieces at d4. After 2.Nc3 the game often turns into an open e-pawn game where the knight on f6 stands well.

What the Alekhine Defense is about

After 1.e4 Nf6 Black attacks the e4 pawn with a knight on move one. There is no pawn in the center for Black yet. The idea is to provoke White: if White chases the knight with e5, c4 and d4, the pawn wall gains space but also becomes a target. Black then hits it with ...d6, ...Nc6 and ...Bg4, and later with ...c5 or ...f6.

From this position White scored 50.1% across 31444 games, which is low for 1.e4. The engine prefers 2.e5, and its main line runs 2...Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 dxe5, the Four Pawns Attack. Quieter tries like 2.Nc3 and 2.d3 keep the balance close to level.

The main variations

The most played reply in the packet is the Scandinavian Variation, 2.Nc3 d5. White refuses to chase the knight, and Black strikes the center with a pawn. The gambit 3.exd5 c6 is common, and Black scored well here: White made only 46.5%.

The Maróczy Variation, 2.d3, simply defends e4. The engine line answers 2...e5 3.f4, and the game resembles a reversed King's Gambit or a Philidor setup.

The Normal Variation, 2.e5 Nd5, is the heart of the opening. From there White chooses a plan. The Two Pawns Attack, 3.c4, kicks the knight again; after 3...Nb6 the push 4.c5 is the Lasker Variation.

The Exchange Variation, 5.exd6, trades on d6 after 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6. White keeps a space edge with c4 and d4 and avoids heavy theory. The Four Pawns Attack, 5.f4, builds the biggest center and the sharpest game. The Modern Variation, 4.Nf3, is the calm choice: White develops and keeps e5 supported by a piece.

Two offbeat Black tries score poorly. The Mokele Mbembe, 2.e5 Ne4, leaves the knight stranded, and White scored 57%. The O'Sullivan Gambit, 3...b5, gives a pawn for little.

Typical plans for White

White's basic plan is to turn extra space into a lasting edge. In the Four Pawns Attack that means e5, d4, c4 and f4, then Be3, Nc3 and Nf3 to protect the wall. The danger is falling behind in development, so White must not push more pawns until the pieces are out.

• In the Modern Variation, develop with Nf3, Be2 and O-O. Keep e5 supported and answer ...Bg4 with h3 or Be2.
• In the Exchange Variation, recapture on d6 with the c-pawn or the queen side pieces and play Nc3 and Be3, then put a rook on the c-file.
• After 2.Nc3, look for d4 and active pieces. The knight on f6 is not chased, so White plays normal open-game chess.

A d5 push is a common way to gain more space and cut Black's pieces off, but only when d5 is well supported.

Typical plans for Black

Black's job is to attack the center before it becomes a cramp. The standard tools are ...d6 against e5, ...Nc6 and ...Bg4 against d4, and ...e6 to give the dark-squared bishop room. Black often trades the bishop for the f3 knight to weaken d4.

• After the knight lands on b6, it watches c4 and d5. Keep it there and bring the other knight to c6.
• Against the Four Pawns Attack, ...dxe5 and pressure on d4 with ...Nc6, ...Bf5 and ...e6 is the standard plan.
• Use ...c5 or ...f6 to open lines once your king is castled.
• After 2.Nc3, ...d5 or ...e5 gives Black a normal share of the center.

Mistakes club players make

• White pushes too many pawns too fast. A center with c4, d4, e5 and f4 needs pieces behind it. Without them, ...c5 or ...Nc6 tears it down.
• Black plays too passively. If Black never challenges e5 with ...d6, White keeps a free space edge and the knight has nowhere good to go.
• The Mokele Mbembe. 2.e5 Ne4 leaves the knight loose in the center. White scored 57% and the engine gives White a clear edge.
• 2.Bc4 for White. The Krejcik Variation lets Black take e4 for little. White scored 45.9% there.
• Black forgets about d5. If White gets d5 in with pieces behind it, Black's pieces can be shut out on the queenside.

Who should play it

The Alekhine suits Black players who like to provoke and then counterattack. You need to be comfortable with less space and know the main lines against the Four Pawns Attack and the Exchange Variation.

For White, the Modern Variation with 4.Nf3 is the practical choice: it keeps a space edge with little risk. Players who enjoy sharp theory can try the Four Pawns Attack, which the engine rates as White's best.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.66: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

1. +0.66 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6
2. +0.13 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4
3. −0.05 2.d3 e5 3.f4 exf4 4.Bxf4 Nc6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

31,444 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.1%.

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Variations of the Alekhine Defense

• Scandinavian Variation2.Nc3 · 6,263 games
• Maróczy Variation2.d3 · 2,792 games
• Normal Variation2.e5 · 2,372 games
• Krejcik Variation2.Bc4 · 937 games
• Four Pawns Attack, Tartakower Variation2.e5 · rare
• Krejcik Variation, Krejcik Gambit2.Bc4 · rare
• Spielmann Gambit2.Nc3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, 2.e5 is the engine's choice and the most natural reply: gain space and make the knight move again. Do not overreach. If you push four pawns, finish development before you push more. If you dislike theory, 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 gives a solid space edge. Avoid 2.Bc4, where Black can take e4 and the engine prefers Black.

Full guide: how to beat the Alekhine Defense

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4; 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6; 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4.

Questions

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.