Chess Openings Lab
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Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System

The Alekhine System in the Central Variation is 3.e4 Nf6, where Black hits the e4 pawn right away instead of defending c4. White can push e5 to gain space and time on the knight, while Black aims for active piece play on the light squares.

Moves
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6
ECO
D20
Engine
+0.35 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,631 games in our lichess sample
White scores
55.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Push 4.e5, the engine's top move, to drive the knight to d5 and gain space.
  • Recapture on c4 with the bishop and bring the queen to b3 to hit the d5 knight and b7.
  • Develop the king's knight to e2 so f4 stays available to support the e5 pawn.
  • Avoid 4.Bxc4, which lets ...Nxe4 grab the center pawn for free and leaves White worse.

Black

  • After e5, put the knight on d5 and develop the c8 bishop to f5 outside the pawn chain.
  • Support d5 with ...c6 and ...e6, building a solid French-like structure with a good bishop.
  • Hit the e5 pawn later with ...c5 or ...f6 when White's pieces are not ready.
  • If White plays slowly, ...b5 tries to keep the extra c4 pawn.

Plans and pawn structure

After 4.e5 Nd5, White has space and a pawn on e5, while Black has a strong knight on d5. White recaptures on c4, uses Qb3 against b7 and d5, and develops Ne2 with ideas of f4. Black places the bishop on f5 before ...e6, then supports d5 with ...c6 and ...e6. Later Black chips at e5 with ...c5 or ...f6. The game is a French-style fight where Black's light-squared bishop is free.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.35: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.35 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Bf5 6.Qb3 c6
  2. −0.14 4.Bxc4 Nxe4 5.Nf3 Nd6 6.Bb3 g6
  3. −0.20 4.Nd2 b5 5.a4 c6 6.Ngf3 e6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,631 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 55.0%.

under 120055.8%
1200–159955.0%
1600–199955.0%
2000 and up48.1%

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

How to play against it

As White, play 4.e5 and follow with Bxc4 and Qb3; don't take on c4 first. As Black facing e5, settle the knight on d5, develop the bishop to f5 and only then play ...e6. Keep the b7 pawn covered against Qb3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System?

The Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System starts 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6. Its ECO code is D20.

Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.35 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,631 lichess games from our sample, White scored 55.0%. A sound, active reply for Black players who like light-square play, while White gets space and a clear plan with e5 and Qb3.

What is the main idea of the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System?

Black meets White's big center with ...Nf6, hitting e4. White pushes e5, regains c4 and pressures d5, while Black builds around the d5 knight and develops the light-squared bishop before ...e6.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is e5, with Bxc4 and Nd2 close behind. 4.e5 gains space with tempo, and the bishop then recaptures on c4 before Qb3 hits d5 and b7.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.