Chessstack

Alekhine Defense

ECO code
B02
Moves
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About the Alekhine Defense

The Alekhine Defense (1. e4 Nf6) attacks White's e-pawn at once and invites it forward, aiming to undermine the center later.

After 2. e5 Nd5, White can chase the knight with c4 and d4 to build a large center, or develop quietly with 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3, the Modern Variation. Black's plan is to let White overextend and then hit the advanced pawns with ...d6, ...c5 and piece pressure.

Main ideas

For White

  • Accept the invitation with 2. e5 and gain space while the knight is chased around the board.
  • In the Modern Variation, develop calmly with Nf3, Be2 and O-O, then use c4 to drive the knight from d5.
  • In the Four Pawns Attack, build the biggest possible center with c4, d4, e5 and f4, then try to keep it.
  • Use the extra space for a kingside attack when Black castles short without enough defenders.
  • Against the Exchange structures, aim for c5 or d5 to restrict Black's knight on b6.

For Black

  • Let White push pawns and then attack them with ...d6, ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...Bg4.
  • Pin the f3 knight with ...Bg4 and trade it, so that d4 and e5 lose a defender.
  • Bring the knight back from b6 to d7 or the center when it is out of play.
  • Strike with ...dxe5 or ...f6 at the right moment to break the center.
  • Stay compact and patient: the Alekhine gives White few targets, so a premature attack often rebounds.

Pawn structure

After 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6, White has a pawn on e5 that cramps Black, and Black prepares to challenge it with ...dxe5 or pressure with pieces. White's pawns on c4, d4 and e5 can become a large center, but every pawn that advances leaves squares behind it. The typical battle is over whether White's center is a strength or a target, which is decided by how well each side supports or attacks it.

Traps and common mistakes

The Fried Liver idea in the Modern Variation

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qh5+ Ke6 8. c4

After 4...dxe5 5. Nxe5, the natural-looking 5...Nd7 lets White sacrifice on f7. After 6. Nxf7 Kxf7 7. Qh5+ Ke6 8. c4, Black's king is stuck in the center and the knight on d5 is attacked. Black should play 5...g6 or 5...c6 instead.

Leaving the knight on d5

If Black ignores the knight on d5, c4 and sometimes c5 or f4 gain time against it, and White's center grows without any cost. Black should decide early where the knight belongs, usually b6, and plan the ...d6 or ...c5 break.

Who should play the Alekhine Defense?

Players with Black who like provoking the opponent and playing against a big center. It suits counterattacking players who are comfortable in cramped positions and know that a large pawn center can become a weakness. The Alekhine is less common than the main defenses to 1. e4, so many opponents are less prepared for it, which gives it practical value at club level.

History

Named after Alexander Alekhine, who played it in 1921 and helped make it respectable in top-level chess. It was part of the hypermodern movement of the 1920s, which argued that the center could be controlled from a distance rather than occupied. Bobby Fischer used it in his 1972 world championship match against Boris Spassky, and players such as Lev Alburt and Vasyl Ivanchuk have kept it alive since.

Alekhine Defense statistics

The Alekhine Defense was reached in 237.3K master games (1.1% of all master games), and White scored 52% from there. On Lichess it comes up in 1.1% of games, most often among players rated 2201–2400 (1.6%).

Master games

237.3K

1.1% of games between players rated 2500+

Club games on Lichess

2.8M

1.1% of games between players rated up to 2400

White wins Draws Black wins

How often it comes up, by rating

  • 0–1000 1.6%
  • 1001–1200 0.9%
  • 1201–1400 0.8%
  • 1401–1600 0.8%
  • 1601–1800 0.9%
  • 1801–2000 1.2%
  • 2001–2200 1.5%
  • 2201–2400 1.6%

Most common next moves in master games

MoveGamesPlayedResults
2. e5182.8K77%
2. Nc344,12719%
2. d37,0083.0%
2. Nf31,4170.6%
2. Qe26270.3%

Famous players with the most games here

  • Daniel Naroditsky 3,852 games
  • Hikaru Nakamura 1,235 games
  • Ben Finegold 689 games
  • Eric Rosen 680 games
  • Chessbrah 313 games
  • Alireza Firouzja 241 games

Master games from the Chessmont database (CC BY-SA 4.0). Club games from the Lichess open database.

Main variations

  • Modern Variation

    B04 · 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3

    White plays 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3, developing calmly instead of chasing the knight. It is the most popular line in master games.

  • Exchange Variation

    B03 · 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6

    White plays c4 and then exd6, trading the e5 pawn for space in the center and on the queenside.

  • Four Pawns Attack

    B03 · 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4

    White plays c4, d4, e5 and f4, building the largest possible center. It is the most ambitious and the most double-edged line.

  • Scandinavian Variation

    B02 · 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5

    White plays 2. Nc3 instead of pushing the pawn, and Black usually answers 2...d5. It avoids the main lines entirely.

Related openings

  • Scandinavian Defense

    B01 · 1. e4 d5

    The Scandinavian Defense (1. e4 d5) challenges White's center on the very first move.

  • Pirc Defense

    B00 · 1. e4 d6

    The Pirc Defense (1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6) is a hypermodern defense that lets White take the center and then undermines it.

  • Modern Defense

    B06 · 1. e4 g6

    The Modern Defense (1. e4 g6) fianchettoes the bishop at once and lets White build a center that Black attacks later.