Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation
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
11… e5+0.45
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation (B03), reached after 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 11… e5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.45).
Top engine moves
- +0.4511… e5 12. Bg5 Qd7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. c5 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Nd7 16. Be3
- +0.6411… Rc8 12. Rc1 d5 13. c5 Na8 14. g4 Be4 15. Ne5 Nc7 16. f3
- +0.6511… Re8 12. Rc1 e5 13. Bg5 Qd7 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. c5 h6 16. cxb6
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation?
After 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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11… e5 for Black, continuing 12. Bg5 Qd7 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. c5 Qxd1 15. Rfxd1 Nd7 16. Be3. White is slightly better (+0.45). The next best moves are 11… Rc8 (+0.64) and 11… Re8 (+0.65).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.45: 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, Karpov 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+).