Alekhine's Defense
1.e4 Nf6
Play Through the Opening
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Moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
Move 6 of 6
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 (Alekhine main line: provoke the White center, then punish it)
Core Ideas
Alekhine's Defense provokes White's center to move: e4-e5 chases the knight, Black retreats to d5 while making White commit too many center pawns. This is hypermodern par excellence. Alekhine (and later Fischer) played this opening to shock beginner opponents unfamiliar with it.
Plan for White
Accept the challenge and build a mega-center with e5-d4-c4. If center is stable, White has a huge space advantage. Chase the knight further with c4 (Four Pawns Attack) or consolidate with Nf3-Be2 (Modern Variation).
Plan for Black
Break center with c5 or e6-d6-d5 counter at moves 6-10. If White overextends, punish with piece activity plus tactical opportunities from unstable center.
Grandmaster Tier Context
T3 Competitive Local through T5 Master. Alekhine's requires deep calculation and strong nerves because Black provocation is risky. Not a first opening; Grandmaster coaches recommend it after players are solid in Caro-Kann or French first.