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Alekhine Defense

Exchange Variation, Voronezh Variation

B03positional

  1. 1.e4Nf6
  2. 2.e5Nd5
  3. 3.d4d6
  4. 4.c4Nb6
  5. 5.exd6cxd6
  6. 6.Nc3g6
  7. 7.Be3Bg7
  8. 8.Rc1O-O
  9. 9.b3
1,089 games54%39%

Alekhine Defense Exchange line where White plays Rc1 and b3 before developing the kingside, leaving Black's pieces without targets to attack.

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About the Voronezh Variation

The Voronezh Variation is named after the Russian city where Grigory Sanakoev and others pioneered it. White keeps the king's knight and bishop at home, so Black's ...Bg4 and knight sorties find nothing to hit. The most common reply, 9...Nc6, usually meets 10. d5, driving the knight to e5 or b4. The main line, 9...e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. c5 N6d7, leads to a queenless position in which Black must untangle and contest c5. White scores well in practice.

Popular continuations