Alekhine Defense
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 · B02–B05
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 14
Space needs support
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- 2.
- 3.
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- 5.
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- 7.
The idea
Black invites White to chase the knight all over the board, accepting a cramped position in return for an overextended white centre to attack.
Main line: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Qe2 Nc6
What White wants
- Chase the knight with e5 and d4 and gain as much space as possible
- Support the big centre without letting it become a target
- Develop with Nf3, Bc4 or Be2 and castle
What Black wants
- Let White overextend and hit the centre with ...d6, ...c5 and ...Bg7
- Trade pieces to relieve the cramp
- Attack the advanced pawns before they become a space advantage
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Space needs support
White gains space by chasing the knight with e5 and building behind it with d4. Those pawns are not automatically overextended: Black needs ...d6 and piece pressure to undermine them. White should develop quickly enough to turn the extra room into activity.
Common mistake
Adding pawn advances without developing behind them. The Four Pawns Attack in the example is a recognised system, not a refuted chase; its broad centre needs Be3, Nf3 and timely castling so Black cannot attack unsupported pawns.
Mistake example: Nc6.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bqk2r/ppp1ppbp/1nnp2p1/4P3/3P4/1B3N2/PPP1QPPP/RNB1K2R w KQkq - 6 8
Analyze this positionVariations
1 line branching from here.