Alekhine Defense

Let the pawns run far from home

Sharp play
Big pawn centre
Hypermodern

Black answers 1.e4 with a knight attack and invites White to chase it with pawns. With every move of e5, d4 and c4 White gains space, but the pawns drift further from home. Black counts on undermining that centre and striking at it with pieces. The defence pulls the opponent out of familiar patterns and suits players who like a sharp, lopsided fight.

Interactive Opening Board

8…Nb6

♚

Black

♔

White

8…Nb6

Speed:

Moves

(16 plies • 8 moves)

8…Nb6Tabiya

The knight goes to b6, hits c4 and keeps control of d5. White has built a centre on c4, d4 and e5, and Black now sets out to wear it down.

1–8moves
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1.e4 White stakes out the centre with the king's pawn.

1…Nf6 Black does not occupy the centre but hits e4 with a knight. The white pawn must advance or find protection, and that is the whole idea: Black wants White to build a big centre, then goes after it. This is the start of the Alekhine.

2.e5 The pawn attacks the knight and grabs space.

2…Nd5 The knight jumps to the centre, to d5, and gets in the way of White's d-pawn.

3.d4 White adds a second central pawn.

3…d6 The d6 pawn hits e5, the head of the chain, and demands an answer.

4.Nf3 A calm move: the knight defends e5 and develops. White does not chase another tempo with c4.

4…Bg4 The bishop comes out before …e6 and pins the f3 knight, which guards e5 and d4.

5.Be2 The bishop prepares castling and defends the f3 knight.

5…e6 The e6 pawn supports the d5 knight and frees the f8 bishop.

6.O-O The king goes to safety.

6…Be7 The bishop comes to e7, and Black is ready to castle.

7.h3 The h3 pawn asks the g4 bishop a question: trade on f3 or retreat.

7…Bh5 The bishop stays on the diagonal and keeps the pin.

8.c4 A third central pawn advances and drives the knight from d5.

8…Nb6 The knight goes to b6, hits c4 and keeps control of d5. White has built a centre on c4, d4 and e5, and Black now sets out to wear it down.

Defining move

1…Nf6 — the invitation to advance

The move that turns the Alekhine into a trap for overreaching

The knight on f6 blocks no white pawn; it simply hits e4. White can answer 2.Nc3 or 2.d3, but usually plays 2.e5 and chases the knight. Every move of the chase brings White closer to what Black wants: a broad centre that has to be defended.

Tabiya

The Modern system with 4.Nf3

White has three central pawns, on c4, d4 and e5, and plenty of space. Black has every piece developed, the bishop on h5 pins the knight and the b6 knight presses on c4. White wants to secure the centre without letting Black break through; here White often plays exd6 or Nc3. Black looks for the moment to strike with …dxe5 and …c5 and tries to show that White's centre is overstretched.

The centre

A big white pawn centre against piece strikes

White's pawns on c4, d4 and e5 form a chain; Black has d6 and e6. White owns the space, but the pawns have few defenders. Black waits and aims at the base of the chain.

Key squaresd5e5d4

Outposts

d5The black knight's outpost
The knight on d5 gets in the way of the white pawn and presses on c3 and b4. White drives it off with c4, but from b6 the knight still watches the square.
g4The bishop that pins the knight
The g4 bishop stands outside the chain and pins the f3 knight, the defender of d4 and e5. Trading on f3 removes that defender.

Thematic breaks

exd6White
The exd6 exchange
Remove the d6 pawn and ease the tension around e5 before it becomes dangerous.
What follows: Black recaptures with the c- or e-pawn and gets a mobile centre, while White keeps the space.
c5Black
The …c5 strike
Strike at d4, the base of White's chain.
What follows: If d4 falls or is traded, the e5 pawn loses its support and White's centre collapses.
dxe5Black
The …dxe5 exchange
Break up the chain and open lines for the pieces.
What follows: Open play suits Black: the pieces are ready, and White's centre becomes a target.

White’s plan

Secure the space: c4, Nc3, sometimes exd6 to ease the tension.
Develop and castle, without giving Black easy trades.
Defend d4 and e5 and do not let Black wear the centre down.

Black’s plan

Undermine the centre with …dxe5, …c5 and …d5.
Trade the g4 bishop for the f3 knight and weaken the defence of d4 and e5.
Develop and castle while White spends time on pawns.

History

The defence is named after Alexander Alekhine, who played it at the Budapest tournament of 1921. It soon became a matter of argument, but strong players took it seriously. Bobby Fischer played it against Boris Spassky in the 1972 match. One of its best-known games is Nigel Short's win over Jan Timman at Tilburg in 1991.