1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

1. e4 Nf6

Shown from Black's side. ECO B02.

Opening guide · an opening for Black

Alekhine Defense

The Alekhine Defense starts 1. e4 Nf6. Black attacks the e pawn with a knight and invites White to chase it with pawns. After 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 White has a big centre, and Black's plan is to prove that the advanced pawns are targets rather than strengths. It leads to unusual positions.

Games in our sample
24,764
White wins
48.6%
Draws
4.5%
Black wins
46.9%
Open this position on the analysis boardResults by rating

How the Alekhine Defense scores at each rating

Each row is one rating band. The share is how much of all the games in that band started with this opening.

RatingGamesShareWhite winsDrawsBlack wins
under 10002,9801.3%50.8%4.6%44.6%
1000 to 11992,2510.7%52.6%3.1%44.4%
1200 to 13992,4080.5%51.6%3.8%44.6%
1400 to 15993,0750.5%50.7%3.5%45.8%
1600 to 17994,3140.7%48.4%3.8%47.8%
1800 to 19994,7420.9%45.8%4.9%49.4%
2000 to 21993,5461.4%45.5%6.4%48.1%
2200 and over1,4481.3%46.5%6.5%47.0%
All ratings24,7640.8%48.6%4.5%46.9%

Counted from 3,156,949 rated blitz, rapid and classical games played on Lichess from 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-02 (the first 5,000,000 games of the month's public file; bullet and unrated games left out). The rating is the average of the two players' Lichess ratings. Source: the Lichess open database (public domain).

Main lines

The named lines of the Alekhine Defense that were played most in our sample, each with the position it reaches.

  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Scandinavian Variation

    1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5

    3,712 games · White 45.8% · draws 5.5% · Black 48.6%

    Analyse this position
  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Maróczy Variation

    1. e4 Nf6 2. d3

    2,217 games · White 48.4% · draws 5.0% · Black 46.6%

    Analyse this position
  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Normal Variation

    1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5

    1,854 games · White 49.7% · draws 3.7% · Black 46.6%

    Analyse this position
  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Exchange Variation

    1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6

    1,349 games · White 47.1% · draws 5.3% · Black 47.7%

    Analyse this position
  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit

    1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 c6

    1,194 games · White 47.2% · draws 3.8% · Black 49.0%

    Analyse this position
  • 1h2g3f4e5d6c7b8a

    Two Pawns Attack

    1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4

    1,171 games · White 50.4% · draws 3.8% · Black 45.9%

    Analyse this position

Ideas for White

  • Do not overextend. The quiet setup with Nf3 keeps a solid edge in space.

Ideas for Black

  • Attack the pawn chain with ...d6, and often ...Bg4 and ...c5.

Questions

What are the moves of the Alekhine Defense?
1. e4 Nf6. In the ECO classification it is filed under B02.
How does the Alekhine Defense score?
In 24,764 games with it in our sample, White won 48.6%, 4.5% were drawn and Black won 46.9%.
At which ratings is the Alekhine Defense played most?
Among players rated 2000 to 2199 it is 1.4% of all games in our sample, its highest share. Its lowest share, 0.5%, is among players rated 1200 to 1399.
Which line of the Alekhine Defense is played most?
Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation (1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5), with 3,712 games in our sample.

Related openings