How to Beat the Alekhine Defense

The simplest system: the Modern Variation

After 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6, play 4.Nf3. You keep e5 protected by a piece instead of a pawn, and you develop normally with Be2, O-O and c4 later. This system asks for little memory and still keeps a small space edge.

Expect ...Bg4 to pin the knight. Meet it with Be2 and h3 at a good moment, and do not fear trading the knight for the bishop: your pawn center still stands. If Black takes on e5, recapture with the knight and use the open d-file and the outpost on e5.

The Modern Variation has done well enough in practice, with White scoring 47.9%, but its value is the low risk. Your position stays healthy and Black needs real skill to equalize.

If you want a fight: the Four Pawns Attack

The engine's top line is 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 dxe5. White builds a full pawn center with c4, d4, e5 and f4. After the recapture fxe5 you should develop with Be3, Nc3 and Nf3 and only then think about d5 or f5.

• Black will play ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 or ...Bg4 to hit d4. Keep the knight on f3 and the bishop on e3.
• Castle quickly. Your king is the most exposed piece in this setup.
• A well-timed d5 push gains more space and drives the c6 knight away.

This line needs real study. White scored only 48.1% in practice, which shows how easy it is to go wrong.

The Exchange Variation

If you want a quieter game with space, play 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6. You trade the e5 pawn, keep c4 and d4, and develop with Nc3, Be3 and Nf3. Black has fewer forcing ideas here, and the plans stay simple: put rooks on the c-file and the d-file and push d5 when it is safe.

Black often aims at d4 with ...Nc6, ...Bg4 and ...e5. Keep enough pieces near d4 that this break does not win a pawn.

One more practical point: in the Exchange lines your pawn on c4 can become a target for ...Na5 or ...Be6 later. Protect it with a rook or the queen, or push c5 to gain queenside space when Black's knight is on b6. That push kicks the knight a third time and often leaves it with no good square at all.

Punishing the offbeat lines

• The Mokele Mbembe, 2.e5 Ne4. The knight has no safe retreat. Develop and chase it with d3 or Nc3 at the right moment. White scored 57% and the engine gives White a clear edge.
• The O'Sullivan Gambit, 3...b5. Take the pawn with the bishop and develop. The engine shows a large edge for White.
• The Brooklyn Variation, 2.e5 Ng8. Black simply retreats. Take the center with d4 and develop fast; the engine prefers White by a clear margin.

Lines to avoid

The Krejcik Variation, 2.Bc4, lets Black take e4, and the engine prefers Black. The Scandinavian Variation, 2.Nc3 d5, is playable but scores only 46.5% for White, so prepare it if you choose 2.Nc3.

Inside the main lines, the most common error is pushing pawns while pieces are still at home. Every pawn move that does not help development gives Black another tempo for ...Nc6 or ...c5.

Plans once the opening is over

Your extra space is the asset. Keep the pawns protected, place the pieces behind them, and try to cramp Black's queenside knight on b6. A d5 push or an f5 push can follow when the center is stable. If Black trades into an endgame, the space edge often stays, and Black's knight on b6 can be a poor piece. Be patient and avoid pawn moves that leave holes on d4 or e4.

Finally, remember that the Alekhine player wants you to overreach. A slow, healthy plan is usually stronger than an early pawn storm, and it takes the counterattacking fun out of Black's opening.

Lines we recommend for White

• Alekhine Defense: Modern VariationThe calm 4.Nf3 setup keeps a space edge with little theory.
• Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns AttackThe engine's top choice. Sharp and demanding, but it gives White the most space.
• Alekhine Defense: Exchange VariationA quieter way to keep c4 and d4 with simple plans for White.

The main lines you will meet

• Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation6,263 games · White 46.5%
• Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation2,792 games · White 50.1%
• Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack2,525 games · White 50.8%
• Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation2,372 games · White 50.5%
• Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation1,930 games · White 49.6%
• Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack1,604 games · White 48.1%
• Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation1,565 games · White 47.9%
• Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation937 games · White 45.9%

Questions

Scores: Lichess rated games, September 2025 (blitz, rapid and classical). Engine: Stockfish 17.1. Updated October 2026. Method.