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Alekhine Defense

Modern Variation, Alekhine Gambit

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  1. 1.e4Nf6
  2. 2.e5Nd5
  3. 3.d4d6
  4. 4.c4Nb6
  5. 5.Nf3Bg4
  6. 6.Be2
911 games47%49%

An Alekhine Defense line where White combines c4 and Nf3 against the pin ...Bg4 and calmly unpins with Be2, leaving a balanced game with central tension.

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About the Alekhine Gambit

In this line White adds c4 to the Modern Variation's Nf3. The pawn chases the knight to b6, and after the pin 5...Bg4 White breaks it with 6. Be2. Black's main replies all pressure the white center. The most common is 6...Nc6, which targets d4 and e5. Next come 6...e6 and the immediate 6...dxe5. The engine rates the position as balanced, and the variation is seldom played. Lichess results are close to level, with Black scoring marginally better.

Popular continuations