ECO B03 · Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4

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

5… g6+0.77

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack (B03), reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… g6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.77).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.775… g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 dxe5 8. dxe5 Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1 Bg4 10. Nf3
  2. +0.835… Bf5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Be2 dxe5 9. fxe5 Bg4 10. Be3
  3. +0.835… dxe5 6. fxe5 Nc6 7. Be3 Bf5 8. Nc3 e6 9. Nf3 Bg4 10. Be2

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack?
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… g6 for Black, continuing 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 dxe5 8. dxe5 Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1 Bg4 10. Nf3. White is slightly better (+0.77). The next best moves are 5… Bf5 (+0.83) and 5… dxe5 (+0.83).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.77: 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: Four Pawns Attack?
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+).