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Chess Openings - The Alekhine Defense

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The Alekhine Defense
1. e4 Nf6

In Alekhine's Defense, black responds to the King's Pawn Opening by bringing out the King's Knight with: 1... Nf6. The opening is named after world champion Alexander Alekhine, who is responsible for much of its popularity.

The defense is part of the Hypermodern School. Black is inviting white to chase the knight by advancing Pawns (2. e5). By inducing an overextended position, black hopes to undermine white's centre and attack it with pieces. The Alekhine is a risky attacking defense in the truest sense.


How Common is The Alekhine Defense?

Red Flag

Rare at All Levels

Although the opening has grandmaster proponents, it is not commonly played. Expect to face the Alekhine about 2% of the time.


Back - Next
Chess Openings - Table of Contents
Introduction
Open Games - Centre Game - King's Gambit - Bishop's Opening - Vienna Game - King's Knight Opening - Spanish Game (Ruy Lopez) - Italian Game - Scotch Game - Philidor Defense - Petrov Defense
Semi-Open Defenses - Scandinavian Defense - French Defense - Caro-Kann Defense - Sicilian Defense - Alekhine Defense - Modern & Pirc Defense
Closed Games - Queen's Gambit
Indian Defenses - Nimzo-Indian Defense - King's Indian Defense - Queen's Indian Defense
Flank Openings - Reti Opening - English Opening - Bird's Opening
Conclusion