Chess opening · ECO B02
Alekhine Defense
1...Nf6 starts the Alekhine Defense, a knight attack on the e4 pawn. The usual reply is 2.e5, chasing the knight and grabbing space. Black lets the white pawns advance on purpose, hoping they turn into targets. The knight hops to d5 and often on to b6, and ...d6 then chips at the front of White's pawn chain.
- Rank by weighted share
- #37 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 Nf6
- 1... Nf6The knight hits e4 on the first move. White has to defend the pawn, push it, or meet the threat another way. Pushing gains time on the knight, so Black's gamble is that the extra space costs White later.
The Four Pawns setup
White can push as far as possible: e5, d4, c4 and f4 against Black's ...Nd5, ...d6 and ...Nb6. White owns a huge pawn front. Black aims at it with ...dxe5, ...Nc6 and ...Bf5 or ...Bg4, trying to pull the pawns apart and pile up on d4 or e5.
Exchanging on d6 instead
After 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6, White can take with exd6. That removes the target pawn on e5 and gives a more open game. Black chooses between recapturing with the c-pawn, which keeps the e7 pawn and half-opens the c-file, and with the e-pawn, which opens the e-file and frees the f8 bishop.
Keeping the knight on f6 with 2.Nc3
Defending e4 with the knight avoids the chase. Black can reply 2...e5, turning the game into a Vienna, or 2...d5, which strikes at e4 again and opens the center.
Four pawns against the knights
2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6
White's pawns on c4, d4 and e5 hold a lot of space. Black's c6 knight hits d4 and e5, the b6 knight watches c4, and the c8 bishop is free to come to f5 or g4, adding pressure on the center.
Top replies by rating
Nc3 leads the two bands under 1400. From 1400 up e5 takes the top spot and its lead grows in every band after that.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nc3 39% | e5 21% | d3 16% |
| 1200–1399 | Nc3 37% | e5 35% | d3 11% |
| 1400–1599 | e5 47% | Nc3 33% | d3 10% |
| 1600–1799 | e5 57% | Nc3 30% | d3 6% |
| 1800–1999 | e5 60% | Nc3 31% | d3 6% |
| 2000 and up | e5 65% | Nc3 30% | d3 4% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.