B03 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation

21/21
1.e4Nf62.e5Nd53.d4d64.c4Nb65.exd6cxd66.Nc3g67.h3Bg78.Nf3O-O9.Be2Nc610.O-OBf511.Bf4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation1.0k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
29%29245%
24%24749%
24%24049%
5.2%5358%
4.8%4946%
2.8%2843%
2.5%2552%
2.2%2248%
1.5%1547%
1.2%1275%
Famous games in this line34 master games
Geller, Efim P (2540) – Vaganian, Rafael A (2640)19850–1Nataf, Igor Alexandre (2560) – Konopka, Michal (2441)2002½–½Schneider, Lars Ake (2435) – Alburt, Lev O (2550)19820–1Nataf, Igor Alexandre (2526) – Schroll, Gerhard (2418)20011–0Zuev, Denis Vladimirovich (2496) – Pavlov, Viktor Aleksandrovi (2430)2020½–½Beliavsky, Alexander G (2420) – Jansa, Vlastimil (2480)1972½–½Gelashvili, Tamaz (2512) – Gesos, Pavlos (2380)19991–0Vokac, Marek (2360) – Chekhov, Valery A (2495)1985½–½
Heroes of this opening Vaganian, Rafael A · Alburt, Lev O · Nataf, Igor Alexandre · Gelashvili, Tamaz
Family
Alekhine Defense
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B03
Line
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Bf5 11. Bf4
Hypermodern
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Nearby lines in the family
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi VariationB03 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Bf5 7.Nc3 e6 …Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Tartakower VariationB03 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Nc6 7.Be3 Bf5 …Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Voronezh VariationB03 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 O-O 9.b3
From the archives

Alexander Alekhine introduced 1...Nf6!? in Budapest 1921: invite White's pawns to chase the knight across the board, then treat the overextended center as a target. It's provocation as strategy, from the only world champion who died holding the title.

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