Alekhine Variation

The Alekhine Variation arises when White, after 4...Nbd7 5. Nf3 c6, plays 6. e4 instead of the usual 6. e3. That more common move permits the Cambridge Springs Defense with 6...Qa5. With 6. e4, White sets up a broad pawn center on c4, d4 and e4 while keeping the pin from g5. Black most often captures with 6...dxe4. The quieter 6...Be7 and the counterattacking 6...Qa5 are less frequent. The engine rates the position as level. The line is seldom seen, and in practice Black scores slightly better.