Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Keres Variation

13/13
1.e4Nf62.e5Nd53.d4d64.Nf3g65.Bc4Nb66.Bb3Bg77.a4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Keres Variation1.5k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
64%95840%
16%24245%
16%24139%
1.1%1738%
1.1%1613%
0.7%1150%
0.3%540%
0.3%450%
0.1%2100%
0.1%10%
Famous games in this line268 master games
Hou Yifan (2653) – Ding Liren (2778)2016½–½Svidler, Peter (2635) – Khalifman, Alexander (2655)1995½–½Grischuk, Alexander (2606) – Ponomariov, Ruslan (2630)20001–0Illescas Cordoba, Miguel (2620) – Granda Zuniga, Julio E (2605)1996½–½Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2585) – Yermolinsky, Alex (2571)2001½–½Almasi, Zoltan (2663) – De la Villa Garcia, Jesus Maria (2473)1999½–½Nunn, John DM (2625) – Howell, James C (2505)19941–0De Firmian, Nick E (2595) – Alburt, Lev O (2530)19891–0
Heroes of this opening Grischuk, Alexander · Nunn, John DM · De Firmian, Nick E
Family
Alekhine Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B04
Line
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. a4
FianchettoHypermodern
★ Read the guide: Alekhine DefenseExplore all 56 Alekhine Defense lines →
Keep exploring
Nearby lines in the family
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Main Line4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Nc6 …Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Matsukevich Gambit3.c4 Nb6 4.c5 Nd5 5.Nc3 Nxc3 …Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Mikenas Variation3.c4 Nb6 4.c5 Nd5 5.Bc4 e6 …
From the archives

Alexander Alekhine played 1...Nf6 at Budapest in 1921 and made it his: invite White's pawns to chase the knight across the board, then treat the overextended centre as a target. The move had been analysed a century earlier; the name stuck to the only world champion to die while still holding the title.

Study this opening
Videos on YouTube ↗Wikipedia: Alekhine Defense ↗