Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation
9/9
1.e4Nf62.e5Nd53.d4d64.c4Nb65.exd6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation2.1M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
55%1.1M52%
44%914k51%
1.1%23k40%
0.1%1.1k41%
0%1.0k39%
0%61050%
0%54320%
0%47349%
0%29044%
0%17837%
Famous games in this line3.9k master games
Aronian, Levon (2773) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Leko, Peter (2755) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2787)Leko, Peter (2752) – Svidler, Peter (2754)Ivanchuk, Vassily (2787) – Carlsen, Magnus (2714)Leko, Peter (2749) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2750)Leko, Peter (2749) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2750)Leko, Peter (2739) – Short, Nigel D (2696)Leko, P. (2723) – Ivanchuk, V. (2704)Heroes of this opening Leko, Peter · Carlsen, Magnus · Ivanchuk, Vassily
- 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
Hypermodern
★ Read the guide: Alekhine DefenseExplore all 56 Alekhine Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Voronezh Variation5…cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 …Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation5…cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Nf3 …
Nearby lines in the family
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