Alekhine Defense
ECO B02, B03 · 1. e4 Nf6
Alekhine's Defense, 1.e4 Nf6, invites White to chase the knight with pawn moves. Black's idea, inspired by hypermodern theory, is that the advanced pawns become targets.
Plans for White
White can grab space with 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 and even 5.f4 (the Four Pawns Attack), or play the calmer Modern Variation (4.Nf3) and Exchange Variation.
Plans for Black
Black undermines the center with ...d6, ...c5, ...Bg4 or ...g6 and puts pressure on the e5 and d4 pawns. The knights often settle on b6 and c6.
Typical pawn structures
White's pawn center on e5, d4 and sometimes c4 and f4 against Black's flexible pawns on d6 and e6. If White's center survives, Black is cramped; if it collapses, Black gets great squares.
Who it suits
Provocative, counterattacking players who like unbalanced positions and are comfortable defending a little space disadvantage.
Common traps
In the Four Pawns Attack, a premature ...dxe5 or ...Bg4 can leave Black underdeveloped against d5 and c5 pawn advances that trap pieces.
Variations
- Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3
- Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4
- Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4
- Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. c5
- Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4
- Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5
- Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6
- Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. Bc4
- Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8
- Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. d3
- Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5
- Alekhine Defense: Buckley Attack — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Na3
- Alekhine Defense: Sämisch Attack — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3
- Alekhine Defense: Welling Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. b3
- Alekhine Defense: O'Sullivan Gambit — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 b5
- Alekhine Defense: The Squirrel — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nf4
- Alekhine Defense: Balogh Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Bc4
- Alekhine Defense: Spielmann Gambit — 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5 Nfd7 4. e6
- Alekhine Defense: Steiner Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. b3
- Alekhine Defense: Kmoch Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Bc4 Nb6 4. Bb3 c5 5. d3