ECO B02 · for Black
Alekhine Defense
The line below is what Lichess 1600-1800 players actually play: after the opening's defining moves, each move is the most common choice at that point. The notes are Chessbook's move notes, the same ones shown while building a repertoire.
8,079,676 games in this band reached the Alekhine Defense position. From there Black won 48% and drew 4%.
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nf3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6
Moves 1 to 2
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5
1. e4
"Best by test" according to Bobby Fisher.
1... Nf6
Provoking 2. e5 in the hope that White's centre will eventually be overextended.
2. e5
Advancing the attacked pawn and attacking the knight.
- 2. Nc3: Defending the attacked pawn without risk of overextending the pawns.
2... Nd5
Moving the knight away from the attack.
Moves 3 to 4
3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6
3. d4
Gaining space in the center and supporting the e5 pawn.
- 3. c4: Attacking the knight and forcing it to b6. White gains a lot of central space and black fights to overextend white's pawns.
3... d6
Breaking with d6 in order to destabilize the white center.
4. c4
Forcing the knight to retreat to b6 and gaining more central space.
- 4. Nf3: Developing the knight while supporting the center.
- 4. f4: Gaining space in the center and strengthening the e5 pawn.
- 4. exd6: Capturing the pawn and relieving the tension in the center. White gives up the space advantage in order to avoid the possibility of becoming overextended later on.
4... Nb6
Retreating the knight away from the attack and aiming to provoke weaknesses in white's center.
Moves 5 to 6
5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nf3 g6
5. exd6
Capturing the pawn on d6 to relieve the central tension.
- 5. f4: Advancing the f-pawn to gain space and protect the e5 pawn.
5... cxd6
Recapturing the pawn and aiming to fight against White's space advantage.
- 5... exd6: Recapturing on d6 and giving the dark-squared bishop the e7 square to develop to.
6. Nf3
Developing the knight and strengthening the central control.
- 6. Nc3: Developing the knight and strengthening control of the center.
6... g6
Moves 7 to 8
7. Nc3 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O
7. Nc3
7... Bg7
8. Be3
8... O-O
Move 9
9. Be2 Nc6
9. Be2
9... Nc6
Plans for Black in this position
What Black usually does from here in Chessbook's games data. Hover a move to see it on the board.
- The bishop on g4 typically captures the knight on f3
- The knight on c4 generally captures the bishop on e3
- The light-squared bishop usually develops to g4
- The knight on e7 often moves to f5
- Common pawn moves are e6, e5, and d5
Related opening guides
- Sicilian Defense for Black
- French Defense for Black
- Scandinavian Defense for Black
- Caro-Kann Defense for Black
- Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation for Black
- Philidor Defense for Black