Alekhine's Defence
Learn Alekhine's Defence by playing 1...Nf6 move by move. Practise the Four Pawns Attack, the Modern Main Line, the Exchange Variation and the Chase Variation one line at a time.
Best for: Surprise weapon · ECO B02-B05 · First moves: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5
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Position after the Alekhine's Defence setup
Common replies
Standard lines you'll meet most of the time. Begin with the recommended four pawns attack, then work through the rest.
Four Pawns Attack
Undermining the largest pawn centre White can build.
White builds the biggest centre in chess with e5, d4, c4 and f4. Black exchanges on e5 immediately and develops with ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 to prove the pawns are targets.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Modern Main Line
The main-line setup with ...Bg4 pressure on the d4 pawn.
White plays the sensible 4.Nf3 and Black pins with ...Bg4 to pressure d4. The most important Alekhine line to know, and the safest way to reach a playable middlegame.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Exchange Variation
Choosing fast development over structural ambition.
White releases the tension with exd6 and Black recaptures with the e-pawn for rapid development. Symmetrical structure, easy play, and a comfortable game for both sides.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
2.Nc3 Sidestep
Transposing safely when White avoids the main Alekhine.
White declines the whole debate with 2.Nc3, and Black plays ...d5 to reach a French-style structure a tempo up. Comfortable and easy to handle.
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5 Nfd7…
Scandinavian Hybrid
Playing open positions after an early central exchange.
White meets 1...Nf6 with 2.Nc3 and exchanges on d5. Black recaptures with the knight and develops quickly, reaching an open, comfortable middlegame.
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 Nxd5…
Exchange with Nf3
Equalising smoothly in the quiet Exchange lines.
A calm Exchange Variation where both sides develop quickly and castle. Black equalises with ...Nc6, and the game turns on small central details rather than immediate tactics.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Sharper options
More aggressive or off-beat lines. Add these once the main setup feels natural.
Chase Variation
Punishing White for chasing pieces instead of developing.
White hunts the knight with c4 and c5 before developing. Black keeps the knight active, breaks with ...e6 and ...d6, and targets the loose advanced pawns.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6…
Two Pawns Attack
Dismantling an over-advanced queenside pawn chain.
White grabs space with c4 and c5, and Black gives up the knight's central post to remove the support behind the advanced pawn. Sharp play where the c5 pawn is either a hero or a target.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6…
Four Pawns Fianchetto
A fianchetto system against White's most aggressive setup.
Black meets the Four Pawns Attack with a kingside fianchetto rather than ...Bf5. The g7 bishop stares at d4 while ...Bg4 increases the pressure on White's oversized centre.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Four Pawns Trifunovic
Adding pressure with ...Bf5 and ...Bb4 before the centre resolves.
Black develops the bishop to f5 before exchanging in the centre, keeping maximum flexibility. The pin with ...Bb4 then adds real pressure to White's overextended position.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Krejcik Gambit
Defending accurately against an early sacrificial attack.
White sacrifices a bishop on f7 for a king hunt. Black must find the accurate defensive moves, after which the extra piece decides the game comfortably.
1. e4 Nf6 2. Bc4 Nxe4 3. Bxf7+ Kxf7…
Mokele Mbembe
A rare knight route that takes opponents out of theory instantly.
Black leaves the knight on e4 rather than retreating to d5, heading for wild, uncharted positions. Very rare, very provocative, and a genuine practical weapon.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4 3. d3 Nc5…
Brooklyn Defence
Playing a provocative retreat and untangling afterwards.
The knight returns to g8, losing two tempi but leaving White with a committed centre. Outrageous on the surface, but the resulting structures are surprisingly playable.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8 3. d4 d6…
Advanced hybrids
Structurally different lines for established players. Best learned after the main setup is automatic.
Larsen Variation
A safe, structure-first way to handle the Alekhine.
Black exchanges on e5 early and develops the bishop to f5 outside the pawn chain. Solid and low-risk, aiming for a Caro-Kann style position with a knight already on d5.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Voronezh Variation
Using the c-file and a fianchetto after the ...cxd6 recapture.
Black recaptures with the c-pawn, keeping a central pawn majority and a half-open c-file. White presses with Rc1 and Black fianchettoes to contest the long diagonal.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Balogh Variation
Pressuring the centre from the flank with a fianchetto.
Black fianchettoes instead of playing ...Bg4, aiming pressure at the d4 pawn along the long diagonal. Flexible development that keeps many structures available.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Flohr Variation
Keeping the bishop pin alive under pressure from h3.
White plays h3 to question the bishop, and Black keeps it on the h5-d1 diagonal. Slow manoeuvring follows, with Black looking to trade on f3 at the perfect moment.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Steiner Variation
Simplifying early to reach a clear, easy-to-play structure.
Black trades the bishop for the f3 knight straight away, damaging nothing but simplifying the game. White gets the bishop pair, Black gets a solid position and clear plans.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Modern with Early c4
Trading pieces to relieve a space disadvantage.
White grabs space with c4 while Black's bishop is on g4. The exchange on e2 relieves the pressure, and Black completes development with ...e6 and ...Be7.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Modern with ...c5 Break
Timing the central break that defines Alekhine strategy.
Black completes development and strikes at d4 with ...c5, the thematic Alekhine break. If White holds the centre with d5 the knights find strong outposts.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6…
Learn more about the Alekhine's Defence
12 sections covering move order, plans, structures, who it suits, and more.
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Another defence for Black
King's Indian Defence
A hypermodern opening where Black allows White to build a broad pawn centre, then strikes back with ...e5 or ...c5. The fianchettoed bishop on g7 becomes a powerful long-range weapon.
Pair this with an opening for White
London System
A solid d4 opening where White develops the dark-squared bishop to f4 early, building a resilient pawn triangle on c3-d4-e3. Low on theory and high on plans, making it an ideal weapon at all levels.
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Ruy Lopez
The king of 1.e4 openings - White develops the bishop to b5, pressuring the knight that defends e5. A cornerstone of top-level chess, it leads to deep strategic battles from slow manoeuvring to explosive attacks.
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