ECO B04 · Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3

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

4… dxe5+0.47

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation (B04), reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… dxe5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.47).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.474… dxe5 5. Nxe5 g6 6. Qf3 Be6 7. Bd2 Bg7 8. c4 Nb6 9. Bc3
  2. +0.564… g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. a4 a5 8. Ng5 e6 9. f4
  3. +0.604… Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 dxe5 7. dxe5 Qd7 8. Qb3 Nb6 9. Nc3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation?
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… dxe5 for Black, continuing 5. Nxe5 g6 6. Qf3 Be6 7. Bd2 Bg7 8. c4 Nb6 9. Bc3. White is slightly better (+0.47). The next best moves are 4… g6 (+0.56) and 4… Bf5 (+0.60).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.47: 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: Modern Variation?
B04. 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+).