Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation
4/4
1.e4Nf62.e5Nd5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation12.7M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
8.1%1.0M49%
5.7%721k48%
0.5%61k48%
0.4%53k49%
0.2%31k50%
0.2%30k48%
0.2%26k49%
Famous games in this line18k master games
Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Carlsen, M. (2853) – Nakamura, Hi (2787)Aronian, Levon (2773) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Carlsen, M. (2832) – Firouzja, Alireza (2767)Nakamura, Hikaru (2736) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Nakamura, Hi (2786) – Caruana, F. (2802)Erigaisi, Arjun (2797) – Abdusattorov, Nodirbek (2783)Anand, V. (2784) – Nakamura, Hi (2787)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Nakamura, Hi · Anand, V.
- Family
- Alekhine Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B02
- Line
- 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5
Hypermodern
★ Read the guide: Alekhine DefenseExplore all 56 Alekhine Defense lines →Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Alekhine Defense: Buckley Attack3.Na3Alekhine Defense: Sämisch Attack3.Nc3Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack3.c4 · 8 deeper linesAlekhine Defense: Welling Variation3.b3
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