Chess Openings Lab
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Caro-Kann Defense: Alekhine Gambit

The Caro-Kann Alekhine Gambit is 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Bd3, where White develops the bishop and leaves d4 unprotected. White offers the pawn for development and attacking chances, while Black can take on d4 or keep it simple with ...Nxe4 or ...Nbd7.

Moves
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Bd3
ECO
B15
Engine
−0.21 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
420 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 5...Qxd4, 6.Nf3 gains time on the queen and 7.Nxf6+ damages Black's kingside pawns.
  • Qe2, Bd2 and long castling bring the rooks to the center against the exposed queen.
  • Against 5...Nbd7, Ng5 and N1f3 aim at f7 and e6, with Qe2 next.

Black

  • 5...Qxd4 grabs the pawn; after Nxf6+ recapture with the g-pawn and develop with ...Bg4.
  • 5...Nxe4 6.Bxe4 Nd7 is the solid route, with ...Nf6 and ...Bg4 to follow.
  • ...e6 and ...Bd6 fit the ...Nbd7 setup, but watch Ng5 ideas against f7.

Plans and pawn structure

If Black takes on d4, White gets open lines and quick development: Nf3, Qe2, Bd2 and long castling. Black's king is often unsafe after gxf6, so Black must get the queen home and decide where the king lives. In the ...Nxe4 lines, the game is a normal Caro-Kann with White's d4 pawn and slightly more space, and Black develops with ...Nf6 and ...Bg4.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.21: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.21 5...Qxd4 6.Nf3 Qd8 7.Nxf6+ gxf6 8.Qe2
  2. +0.10 5...Nxe4 6.Bxe4 Nd7 7.c3 Nf6 8.Bd3
  3. +0.25 5...Nbd7 6.Ng5 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

420 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.8%.

under 120045.0%
1200–159948.5%
1600–199959.0%
2000 and up54.5%

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

How to play against it

If you like material, take with 5...Qxd4 and accept a long defense. For a calmer game, 5...Nxe4 and ...Nd7 reach a normal Caro-Kann structure. Do not play ...Nbd7 without care, since Ng5 and Qe2 put pressure on f7 and e6.

Questions

What are the moves of the Caro-Kann Defense: Alekhine Gambit?

The Caro-Kann Defense: Alekhine Gambit starts 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Bd3. Its ECO code is B15.

Is the Caro-Kann Defense: Alekhine Gambit good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.21 at depth 20, which is level. In 420 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.8%. A sharp, practical gambit for White at club level; Black can avoid it with ...Nxe4 or accept it with good defensive technique.

What is the main idea of the Caro-Kann Defense: Alekhine Gambit?

White gives up the d4 pawn to speed up development. After ...Qxd4, Nf3 and Nxf6+ open Black's kingside, and White plays for an attack with Qe2, Bd2 and long castling.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Qxd4, with Nxe4 and Nbd7 close behind. 5...Qxd4 accepts the pawn, and Black must then handle Nf3 and Nxf6+ before the queen returns to d8.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.