ECO B03 · Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation

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

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5… exd6+0.51

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation (B03), reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… exd6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.51).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.515… exd6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Be2 Be7 8. Nf3 Bf6 9. O-O O-O 10. b3
  2. +0.625… cxd6 6. Nf3 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O
  3. +1.215… e5 6. c5 N6d7 7. Bc4 cxd6 8. Qb3 Qf6 9. Nf3 dxc5 10. Bg5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation?
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… exd6 for Black, continuing 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Be2 Be7 8. Nf3 Bf6 9. O-O O-O 10. b3. White is slightly better (+0.51). The next best moves are 5… cxd6 (+0.62) and 5… e5 (+1.21).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.51: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation?
B03. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).