Main line, through 1... Nf6B02
1. e4 Nf6
In the centre, White holds e4.
B02-B05
Alekhine Defense
56 named lines in this family, ECO B02-B05. Every one of them opens 1. e4 Nf6, so the notes on those moves are written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.
The moves every line here plays
1. e4 Nf6
- 1. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen.
- 1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4. Theory calls this the Alekhine Defense.
Krejcik VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. Bc4
- 2. Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4, eyeing d5. It eyes f7, the one square only the king defends. Theory calls this the Krejcik Variation.
Maróczy VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. d3
- 2. d3 Supports the centre, adding control of e4. Theory calls this the Maróczy Variation.
Brooklyn VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8
In the centre, White holds e5.
- 2. e5 Puts the question to the knight on f6 - retreat, trade, or be taken.
- 2... Ng8 Repositions the knight to g8. It backs up the pawn on e7. Theory calls this the Brooklyn Variation.
Mokele MbembeB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4
- 2... Ne4 Repositions the knight to e4, where it hits the pawn on d2 and the pawn on f2. Theory calls this the Mokele Mbembe.
Normal VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5
- 2... Nd5 Repositions the knight to d5. It backs up the pawn on c7.
Scandinavian VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5
In the centre, White holds e4 while Black holds d5.
- 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4. It also props up the e4 pawn.
- 2... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Scandinavian Variation.
Buckley AttackB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Na3
Krejcik Variation, Krejcik GambitB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. Bc4 Nxe4 3. Bxf7+
An early pawn trade leaves the e-file as White's avenue and the f-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
- 2... Nxe4 Takes the pawn on e4.
Sämisch AttackB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3
Two Pawns AttackB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4
Welling VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. b3
Brooklyn Variation, Everglades VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8 3. d4 f5
In the centre, White holds d4 and e5.
Mokele Mbembe, Modern LineB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4 3. d4 f6
Mokele Mbembe, Vavra DefenseB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4 3. d4 e6
Scandinavian Variation, Geschev GambitB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 c6
An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.
The SquirrelB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nf4
Scandinavian Variation, Myers GambitB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d3 dxe4 4. Bg5
Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.
Spielmann GambitB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5 Nfd7 4. e6
White's pawn has already reached e6.
Steiner VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. b3
Two Pawns Attack, Lasker VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5
Two Pawns Attack, Tate VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. a4
Kmoch VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Bc4 Nb6 4. Bb3 c5 5. d3
Hunt Variation, Lasker Simul GambitB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nc3
Two Pawns Attack, Mikenas VariationB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nc3 d6
Hunt Variation, Matsukevich GambitB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 d6 7. Bg5
The structure hands White the half-open d-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.
Hunt Variation, Mikenas GambitB02
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nxd5 exd5 8. Bxd5
The structure hands Black the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.
Main line, after 2. e5, through 3. d4B03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4
Main line, after 2. e5, through 3... d6B03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6
O'Sullivan GambitB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 b5
Balogh VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Bc4
Main line, after 2. e5, through 4. c4B03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4
Exchange VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6
White trades pawns on d6 and keeps a small structural edge with simpler positions.
Four Pawns AttackB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4
Hunt VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. c5
Four Pawns Attack, Cambridge GambitB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 g5
Four Pawns Attack, Fianchetto VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 g6
Four Pawns Attack, Trifunovic VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 Bf5
Modern Variation, Alekhine GambitB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2
White builds a big centre and dares Black to attack it.
Four Pawns Attack, Main LineB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6 7. Be3
An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as Black's avenue and the f-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file.
Exchange Variation, Voronezh VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Rc1 O-O 9. b3
An early pawn trade leaves the c-file as Black's avenue and the e-file as White's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.
Four Pawns Attack, Ilyin-Zhenevsky VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. e6 fxe6 9. c5
Black comes out ahead on material - White needs concrete play to justify it.
Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Bf5 7. Nc3 e6 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O f6
Exchange Variation, Karpov VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Bf5 11. Bf4
Four Pawns Attack, Tartakower VariationB03
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6 7. Be3 Bf5 8. Nc3 e6 9. Nf3 Qd7 10. Be2 O-O-O 11. O-O Be7
Kings castle on opposite wings - expect pawn storms racing at both kings.
Modern VariationB04
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3
Modern Variation, Alburt VariationB04
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6
Modern Variation, Larsen VariationB04
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5
Modern Variation, Larsen-Haakert VariationB04
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Nc6
Modern Variation, Schmid VariationB04
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Nb6
Modern Variation, Keres VariationB04
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. a4
Modern Variation, Main LineB05
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4
Modern Variation, Alekhine VariationB05
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4
Modern Variation, Panov VariationB05
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3
Modern Variation, Flohr VariationB05
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 c6
Modern Variation, Vitolins AttackB05
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4 Nb6 6. d5
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