Reversed Alekhine

The Reversed Alekhine arises after 1. g3 e5 2. Nf3, when White develops the knight directly against the e5-pawn. Because the pawn can advance and hit the knight, 2. Nf3 is seen less often than simply continuing with Bg2 or challenging the center at once. The idea mirrors Alekhine's Defense (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5) from the other side. White lets Black gain space and then treats the advanced pawn as a target, with the extra move g3 already played.

The engine rates the position roughly balanced. Its first choice is 2...e4, which is also the most frequent reply in practice. After 2...e4, the knight move 3. Nh4 produces the Reversed Norwegian Defense. Black can instead protect the pawn with 2...Nc6 or 2...d6. Another option is 2...d5, which leads into the Omega-Delta Gambit of the King's Indian Attack. Results in Lichess games are close, with White slightly ahead. White scores somewhat better against 2...d5 and 2...d6 than against the pawn push or 2...Nc6.