♚ blackB02–B05

Alekhine Defense

The Alekhine Defense (1.e4 Nf6) immediately attacks the e4 pawn, inviting White to advance with 2.e5. Black then maneuvers the knight while White's center becomes overextended.

Variations

About the Alekhine Defense

Named after World Champion Alexander Alekhine, this defense is a hypermodern provocation. Black invites White to build a big center with e5, d4, c4, then systematically undermines it. After 2.e5 Nd5, the main lines are the Four Pawns Attack (very aggressive) and the Modern Variation (more restrained). Fischer famously lost to the Alekhine in a critical game, proving its surprise value.

Key Ideas

1...Nf6 provokes e5 — then attack the overextended center
The knight dances: Nf6-d5-b6 or Nf6-d5-f4
...d6 challenges e5 — the key break
...c5 attacks d4, the other pillar of White's center
Good surprise weapon — most players don't face it often

Related Openings

Pirc Defense Scandinavian Defense Caro-Kann: Classical French Defense: Winawer

Ready to master the Alekhine Defense?

Import this one or your own lines from YouTube, Lichess, or PGN and train with spaced repetition.