B04 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen Variation

8/8
1.e4Nf62.e5Nd53.d4d64.Nf3dxe5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen Variation224k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
57%126k53%
42%93k47%
1.1%2.4k52%
0.5%1.1k46%
0.2%44041%
0%7451%
0%6136%
0%4634%
0%1828%
0%1145%
Famous games in this line2.6k master games
Anand, Viswanathan (2799)Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2760)2008½–½Karjakin, Sergey (2775)Kamsky, Gata (2762)20121–0Anand, Viswanathan (2799)Carlsen, Magnus (2733)20081–0Grischuk, Alexander (2764)Nakamura, Hikaru (2760)20120–1Kasparov, Garry (2838)Short, Nigel D (2682)2002½–½Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779)Dominguez Perez, L. (2739)20181–0Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779)Dominguez Perez, L. (2739)20181–0Anand, Viswanathan (2801)Carlsen, Magnus (2714)20071–0
Heroes of this opening Anand, Viswanathan · Vachier Lagrave, M. · Karjakin, Sergey · Nakamura, Hikaru
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B04
Line
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5
Hypermodern
Read the guide: Alekhine DefenseExplore all 56 Alekhine Defense lines
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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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