Alekhine's Defense Guide

The Alekhine’s Defense is a chess opening for Black that starts with the moves 1.e4 Nf6. It's a hypermodern opening, where Black allows White to gain central space initially with the intent to undermine it later. The opening is named after Alexander Alekhine, the fourth World Chess Champion.

Typical plans in the Alekhine’s Defense for Black include targeting the center with moves like ...c5 or ...f6, rapid development and castling to bring rooks to central files (e.g., Re8 or Rc8), and looking for opportunities to counter-attack on the queenside or the center.

Key Ideas in the Alekhine’s Defense

• Counterattack: Black's knight attacks the e4 pawn immediately, provoking White to advance their pawn to e5.
• Flexible Defense: Black can adopt various pawn structures and counterattacking plans.
• Piece Activity: Often leads to open and dynamic positions with active piece play for Black.

Common Maneuvers and Pawn Breaks

• Knight Maneuvers: Nd5-b6 or Nd5-c6 depending on White's response, looking to counter the center.
• Central Breaks: ...d6 and ...c5 are critical breaks for Black to challenge White's center.
• Early Tactics: Be cautious of tactics like knight forks or double attacks, especially in the Four Pawns Attack.

Advantages and Disadvantages

One of the main advantages is the surprise factor. The Alekhine's Defense is less common, which can potentially catch opponents off guard.

Also, it leads to unbalanced positions, offering chances to play for a win.

The disadvantages are that Black can fall behind in development if not careful, and that if White manages to maintain the central pawn structure, Black might struggle for counterplay.

Most Played Line in the Alekhine’s Defense

The Modern Variation is the most played variation in the Alekhine’s Defense:

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5

White has attacked the knight, which has jumped to the most natural square.

3.d4 d6

White consolidates the center. Black challenges immediately with 3…d6.

4.Nf3 Bg4

White continues developing pieces. Black pins the knight with their bishop.

5.Be2 e6

White unpins their knight. Black makes space for their dark-squared bishop.

6.O-O Be7

7.c4 Nb6

White expands in the center, black retreats their knight to a safe spot.

Variations in the Alekhine’s Defense

Modern Variation

We just saw the Modern Variation in action with 4…Bg4 for black.

Black can also play 4…g6.

Also 4…dxe5.

Or the solid 4…c6.

Four Pawns Attack

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

White establishes a wide center.

Exchange Variation

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.exd6

Chase Variation

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.a4 a5.

A less common but intriguing line aiming for queenside play.

Model Games

Related Chess Courses

Fighting 1.e4 – The Complete Repertoire for Black with FM Yuriy Krykun

Other Interesting Articles

Pirc Defense Guide

Modern Defense Guide

Scotch Game Guide

B02 Sub-variants:

• Alekhine's defence
  1. e4 Nf6
• Alekhine's defence, Scandinavian variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5
• Alekhine's defence, Spielmann variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5 Nfd7 4. e6
• Alekhine's defence, Maroczy variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. d3
• Alekhine's defence, Krejcik variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. Bc4
• Alekhine's defence, Mokele Mbembe (Buecker) variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4
• Alekhine's defence, Brooklyn defence
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8
• Alekhine's defence
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5
• Alekhine's defence, Kmoch variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Bc4 Nb6 4. Bb3 c5 5. d3
• Alekhine's defence, Saemisch attack
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3
• Alekhine's defence, Welling variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. b3
• Alekhine's defence
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4
• Alekhine's defence, Steiner variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. b3
• Alekhine's defence, two pawns' (Lasker's) attack
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5
• Alekhine's defence, two pawns' attack, Mikenas variation
  1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nc3 d6