Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation

About this variation

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

The Modern Variation is 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3. White keeps a pawn on e5, develops the kingside knight and does not try to win time against the knight on d5. It is the most common answer to the Alekhine because it is simple to play and keeps a small space advantage without creating weaknesses.

Black's main replies are 4...Bg4, pinning the knight that defends e5, 4...g6, fianchettoing the bishop to aim at e5 and d4, and 4...dxe5, clearing the center at once. After 4...Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 Nb6, both sides have finished their basic development and the game turns on the e5 pawn.

White's plans include c4 to drive the knight to b6, h3 to ask the bishop on g4 to decide, and exd6 at the right moment to give Black an isolated or backward pawn. White also uses the space on the kingside to prepare an attack if Black castles there without enough defenders.

Black's ideas are to pressure e5 with ...Nc6, ...dxe5 and ...Nd7, to trade the light-squared bishop for the f3 knight so that d4 and e5 have fewer defenders, and to break with ...c5 or ...d5 once White's pawns are fixed. Black's position is compact and has no real weaknesses, so patience is often rewarded.

A common mistake for Black is to leave the knight on d5 for too long, where c4 gains time against it. A common mistake for White is to defend e5 with too many pieces, leaving the queenside undeveloped. Both sides should keep an eye on the e5 pawn, which decides most games in this line.

The Modern Variation suits White players who want a reliable, low-risk answer to the Alekhine with a small, lasting edge. Black players who choose the Alekhine meet it more than any other line, so it is the first thing to study.

It is one of the main lines of the Alekhine Defense.