Alekhine's Defense

1. e4 Nf6

Alekhine's Defense is named after Alexander Alekhine, who introduced it at the Budapest tournament in 1921 and immediately beat Endre Steiner with it. The move 1... Nf6 attacks the e4 pawn on the very first move — but Black's deeper intention is to invite White to chase the knight with pawns and then dismantle White's overextended pawn centre.

The defense embodies a hypermodern idea: rather than fighting for the centre with pawns immediately, let White build a large centre, then undermine and attack it. Alekhine argued that a large, overextended pawn centre is a liability rather than an asset.

The defense is considered somewhat risky at the highest levels — White's centre can be genuinely powerful — but it has never been refuted and remains a serious weapon for players who want to steer the game into unfamiliar territory.

The core idea

After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5, White has pushed the knight back and claimed central space. But the knight on d5 is stable and well-placed. Now the question is whether White's advanced pawn centre (e5, and typically d4 to follow) becomes a strength or a target. Black's plan is to play ... d6, ... c5, and eventually ... Nc6 or other moves to attack d4 and e5.

If White plays correctly and maintains the centre, Black is slightly cramped. If White overreaches, the centre falls apart. This tension defines every variation in the defense.

Main variations

Four Pawns Attack — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4

White builds the most ambitious possible pawn centre. Four pawns — d4, e5, c4, and f4 — occupy the centre and kingside. It looks overwhelming, but Black can counter with 5... dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6 7. Nf3, and now 7... Bg4 pins the f3 knight and starts attacking the centre. The Four Pawns Attack is the most double-edged try and leads to positions where concrete play is essential.

It was out of fashion for decades but has been revived in modern correspondence and engine analysis. Black must know the theory carefully.

Modern Variation — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3

The most popular main line. White develops the knight to f3 (not grabbing with c4 yet) and builds the centre more soberly. After 4... dxe5 5. Nxe5 c6 or 4... Bg4 5. Be2, the position is solid for both sides and extremely well-charted. The Modern Variation is White's most reliable way to play for an edge without overextension.

Sub-variations: - Exchange Variation (5. exd6 cxd6) — White trades the advanced pawn immediately for a slight development lead - Main Line (4... dxe5 5. Nxe5 c6 6. Be2 Nd7) — Black prepares ... Nxe5 and ... g6 for the fianchetto

Two Pawns Attack — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5

White rushes the c-pawn forward, forcing the knight to retreat again with 4... Nd5 5. Bc4. This is aggressive but leaves the c5 pawn overextended. Black responds with 5... e6 and prepares to undermine c5 with ... d6. The Two Pawns Attack can catch unprepared opponents but gives Black good counterplay with accurate play.

Chase Variation / Mackenzie Attack — 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3

White develops a piece rather than pushing pawns. After 3... Nxc3 4. dxc3, White has the doubled c-pawns but a half-open d-file and active piece play. This can transpose to other openings. Less ambitious than the Four Pawns Attack but keeps the game in solid territory.

Alekhine–Chatard / Minor lines

Various minor tries from White include early Be2, Bc4, and positional setups. Black should meet all of them with consistent development: ... d6, ... c5, ... Nc6, and pressure on the centre.

Canonical games to study

• Alekhine – Steiner, Budapest 1921 — the debut of the defense; Alekhine demonstrates its ideas.
• Spassky – Dely, Sochi 1964 — Four Pawns Attack; White's pawn centre overwhelms Black.
• Fischer – Witkov, Siegen 1970 (Olympiad) — Fischer crushes Alekhine's Defense; the dangers of an overextended centre collapsing.
• Mikhalchishin – Karpov, 1978 — Black demonstrates the defense's resources.
• Larsen – Portisch, 1968 — Bent Larsen's treatment; the defense's creative possibilities.

Practical advice

1. Know the Four Pawns Attack thoroughly. It's White's most ambitious reply and the one most likely to test your preparation. Don't reach the Four Pawns Attack without knowing 7... Bg4 and its follow-ups.
2. Maintain the knight on d5. The d5 knight is often the key piece in the defense. Letting White dislodge it without compensation gives up the whole strategic idea.
3. Attack d4 with ... c5. The ... c5 break is almost always Black's main counterattacking plan. Prepare it, time it, and execute it decisively.
4. Be willing to give up the bishop pair. In many lines, Black trades ... Nxe5 dxe5 or plays ... Bg4 and exchanges the bishop for the f3 knight. These trades are fine — the resulting positions suit Black's plans.
5. Use it as a surprise weapon, not a main repertoire. Alekhine's Defense has a limited following at the top level. Its strength is that it takes White out of familiar territory. Don't rely on it as your only defense to 1. e4 — keep it in reserve.

Related openings

• French Defense — another solid, principled reply to 1. e4; more mainstream than Alekhine's.
• Caro-Kann Defense — solid alternative; Black plays for sound development without hypermodern provocation.
• Sicilian Defense — the most popular fighting reply to 1. e4; compare the Sicilian's asymmetric approach to Alekhine's hypermodern one.

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