ECO B04 · Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen-Haakert Variation

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Nc6

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

5. c4+0.96

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen-Haakert Variation (B04), reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. c4 for White. White is clearly better (+0.96).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.965. c4 Nb6 6. e6 fxe6 7. Be3 e5 8. d5 Nd4 9. Nxd4 exd4
  2. +0.685. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. O-O e6 8. Re1 Ne7 9. Nbd2 a5
  3. +0.535. e6 fxe6 6. Bc4 g6 7. h4 Nf6 8. h5 gxh5 9. Nc3 Bg7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen-Haakert Variation?
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Nc6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. c4 for White, continuing Nb6 6. e6 fxe6 7. Be3 e5 8. d5 Nd4 9. Nxd4 exd4. White is clearly better (+0.96). The next best moves are 5. Bb5 (+0.68) and 5. e6 (+0.53).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen-Haakert Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.96: white is clearly 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, Larsen-Haakert 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+).