Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation
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
9… Nd5−0.39
Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation (B03), reached after 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, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Nd5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.39).
Top engine moves
- −0.399… Nd5 10. Bb5 Qd7 11. Nbd2 g6 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Nxf3 Bg7 14. Qa4
- −0.339… Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nd5 11. Bb5 Qd7 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Qe2 g6 14. Bxc6
- 0.009… Nd7 10. Bb5 g6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bg7 14. Nc3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation?
After 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, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Nd5 for Black, continuing 10. Bb5 Qd7 11. Nbd2 g6 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Nxf3 Bg7 14. Qa4. Black is slightly better (−0.39). The next best moves are 9… Bxf3 (−0.33) and 9… Nd7 (0.00).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.39: black 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, Ilyin-Zhenevsky 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+).