Alekhine Defense
ECO B02-B05intermediate
The Alekhine, 1.e4 Nf6, is chess's boldest provocation: Black attacks e4 with a knight and dares White to chase it across the board with 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6. White builds an enormous pawn center — and that center becomes the target. Black undermines it with ...d6xe5, ...Bg4 and ...c5 strikes, betting that the advanced pawns will prove overextended. The Four Pawns Attack tests that bet most directly; the restrained Modern Variation (4.Nf3) is White's solid choice.
Main line
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.O-O Be7 7.c4 Nb6
Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.
Win rates by rating
Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.
| Rating | Games | White wins | Draws | Black wins | Position after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400-600 | 57 | 43.9% | 7% | 49.1% | 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 |
| 600-800 | 44 | 50% | 2.3% | 47.7% | 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 |
| 800-1000 | 29 | 58.6% | 0% | 41.4% | 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 |
| 1000-1200 | 39 | 48.7% | 2.6% | 48.7% | 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 |
| 1200-1400 | 81 | 53.1% | 1.2% | 45.7% | 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 |
Most played continuations (1200-1400 rating)
After 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2:
- Nc6 — played 34.6% of the time (White wins 64.3%, draws 0%, Black wins 35.7%)
- e6 — played 18.5% of the time (White wins 53.3%, draws 0%, Black wins 46.7%)
- Bxf3 — played 13.6% of the time (White wins 36.4%, draws 0%, Black wins 63.6%)
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense refuted by the Four Pawns Attack?
No. The Four Pawns (4.c4 Nb6 5.f4) looks crushing but theory shows Black's counterplay with ...dxe5, ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 holds the balance — White's center is as much a liability as an asset. It is, however, the line every Alekhine player must know cold.
Who should play the Alekhine?
Counterpunchers. If you enjoy positions where the opponent is handed rope — space, central pawns, and every chance to overextend — the Alekhine delivers them by force. Players who prefer holding their own central stake should look at the Caro-Kann instead.
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