Chess Openings Lab
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Hungarian Opening: Reversed Alekhine

The Reversed Alekhine is 1.g3 e5 2.Nf3, where White's knight hits e5 and dares Black to chase it with ...e4. Black can gain space with ...e4 and ...d5, while White plans to undermine that advanced pawn with d3 and c4 from the side.

Moves
1.g3 e5 2.Nf3
ECO
A00
Engine
−0.10 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
499 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • If Black pushes ...e4, step aside with Nh4, then strike at the pawn with d3 and recapture so the center opens.
  • Fianchetto with Bg2 and aim c4 at any pawn on d5 once Black has spent time chasing the knight.
  • Against the calm ...d6, keep to Bg2, c4 and O-O, then use Nc3 to watch d5 and e4.

Black

  • 2...e4 is the engine's top choice: after Nh4 support the pawn with ...d5 and leave the h4 knight offside.
  • 2...Nc6 defends e5 first; ...e4 can wait until White commits with c4.
  • Set up ...d6, ...Be7 and ...f5 for a kingside space grab if you prefer to avoid early tactics.

Plans and pawn structure

This is an Alekhine Defense with colors reversed and an extra tempo for White. Black's pawn on e4 gains space, but it is a target: White hits it with d3 and c4, fianchettoes and castles. The knight on h4 looks odd but can come back to f3 or jump to f5. If Black keeps the pawn on e5 with ...Nc6 or ...d6, the game turns into a reversed King's Indian or English, and White plays for c4 and queenside space.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.10: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.10 2...e4 3.Nh4 d5 4.d3 exd3 5.cxd3
  2. +0.05 2...Nc6 3.c4 e4 4.Nh4 Nf6 5.Bg2
  3. +0.40 2...d6 3.Bg2 Be7 4.c4 f5 5.O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

499 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.2%.

under 120051.3%
1200–159949.7%
1600–199964.1%
2000 and up52.2%

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

Where it goes next

  • Reversed Brooklyn Defense, Brooklyn Benko Gambit2...e4 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, push 2...e4 and back it with ...d5; the knight on h4 is awkward there. If you would rather avoid that, 2...Nc6 is solid. Do not rush ...f5 too early, which leaves the e5 pawn and the e8-h5 diagonal loose.

Questions

What are the moves of the Hungarian Opening: Reversed Alekhine?

The Hungarian Opening: Reversed Alekhine starts 1.g3 e5 2.Nf3. Its ECO code is A00.

Is the Hungarian Opening: Reversed Alekhine good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.10 at depth 20, which is level. In 499 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.2%. A sly move order for White that suits players who like hitting overextended pawns; Black needs to know the ...e4 and ...d5 setup.

What is the main idea of the Hungarian Opening: Reversed Alekhine?

White invites ...e4 so the advanced pawn can be attacked later with d3 and c4. Black can accept the challenge with ...e4 and ...d5 or defend calmly with ...Nc6.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e4, with Nc6 and d6 close behind. 2...e4 gains space with tempo, and after Nh4 the ...d5 push keeps the pawn well supported.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.