Theoria
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Catalan Opening

Open Defense, Alekhine Variation

E03positionalsolid

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.g3d5
  4. 4.Bg2dxc4
  5. 5.Qa4+Nbd7
  6. 6.Qxc4a6
  7. 7.Qc2

No game statistics for this position yet.

An Open Catalan line in which White regains the c4-pawn at once with a queen check and capture, then retreats the queen to c2 after Black's ...a6.

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About the Alekhine Variation

The Alekhine Variation is an Open Catalan line (ECO E03) in which White wins back the c4-pawn immediately with 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 instead of delaying with 5. Nf3. Black's 6...a6 threatens ...b5, which would gain time against the queen, so White withdraws it at once with 7. Qc2. Material is level, White's d4-pawn faces Black's e6-pawn, and the c- and d-files are half-open.

Popular continuations

No continuations known for this position yet.