Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code B02. It goes 1. e4 Nf6. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... Nf6. After 2 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2. e5.

About the Alekhine Defense

Black answers 1.e4 with 1...Nf6, inviting White's pawns to chase the knight. The idea is to make White over-extend, then attack the big centre.

• After e5 Nd5 c4 Nb6 d4, White has a big centre that can become a target.
• Black hits the centre with ...d6, ...Nc6, ...Bg4 and ...c5.
• The quiet 4.Nf3 (Modern) is White's safest way to keep a small edge.

Related openings

• It extends: King's Pawn Game (1. e4)
• Continues with: Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation – adds 2. e5 Ng8
• Continues with: Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation – adds 2. Bc4
• Continues with: Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation – adds 2. d3
• Continues with: Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe – adds 2. e5 Ne4
• Continues with: Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation – adds 2. e5 Nd5
• Continues with: Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation – adds 2. Nc3 d5
• Related line: Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8)
• Related line: Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation, Everglades Variation (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8 3. d4 f5)
• Related line: Alekhine Defense: Buckley Attack (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Na3)
• Related line: Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Lasker Simul Gambit (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nc3)
• Related line: Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Matsukevich Gambit (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 d6 7. Bg5)
• Related line: Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Mikenas Gambit (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nxd5 exd5 8. Bxd5)

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