Chess Openings Lab
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Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation

The Brooklyn Variation is 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8, where the knight retreats all the way home. Black hopes the e5 pawn becomes a target later, but White can simply develop with extra time and build a strong center.

Moves
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8
ECO
B02
Engine
+0.99 · a clear edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
692 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play 3.d4 and Nf3, getting a classical center and a clear development lead, as the top engine line shows.
  • Answer ...d6 with Nf3 and recapture with the knight: 4...dxe5 5.Nxe5 puts a strong piece in the center.
  • Another good setup is Nc3 with f4, holding e5 with pawns before Black can attack it.
  • Use your tempo lead to castle quickly and bring rooks to the center files once lines open.

Black

  • Hit e5 with ...d6 right away; the pawn is White's only real space-gainer so far.
  • Strike at d4 with ...c5, as in two of the engine lines, to stop White from holding a full center.
  • Bring the knight back to f6 only once e5 is gone, and look at ...Bg4 to pin a knight on f3.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a provocation, and the engine treats it as one: White is clearly better because Black has spent two moves to put the knight back on g8. The pawn on e5 takes f6 and d6 from Black, and White can support it with d4, Nf3 and sometimes f4. Black's only plan is to undermine it with ...d6 and ...c5 and hope White overextends. If White just develops, Black ends up several tempi behind in an open position.

Where the engine's main line heads: White pawn d4, no e-pawns for White, no d-pawn for Black. White has a pawn on d4 and no e-pawn; Black has no d-pawn. White has more central space; Black's pieces are free and the d4 pawn is a target.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.99: a clear edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.99 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 Nf6
  2. +0.79 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 c5 5.d4 cxd4
  3. +0.69 3.Nf3 d5 4.c3 c5 5.d4 cxd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

692 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.6%.

under 120055.8%
1200–159951.9%
1600–199953.5%
2000 and up42.4%

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

Where it goes next

  • Brooklyn Variation, Everglades Variation3.d4 · rare

How to play against it

Do not get fancy. Play d4, Nf3, Nc3 and develop the bishops; extra tempi count most in open positions. Avoid pushing f4 and c4 all at once without pieces behind them, since that gives Black exactly the targets this line is fishing for.

Questions

What are the moves of the Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation?

The Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation starts 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8. Its ECO code is B02.

Is the Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.99 at depth 20, which is a clear edge for White. In 692 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.6%. A surprise weapon at best, since it hands White a comfortable development lead and needs a patient, provocative style from Black.

What is the main idea of the Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation?

Black retreats the knight to g8, offering White free time in exchange for a target on e5. In practice White should profit by developing quickly with d4 and Nf3 before Black can hit the center.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is d4, with Nc3 and Nf3 close behind. 3.d4 grabs the full center and backs up e5, the simplest way to use the free tempi.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.