ECO B02 · Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4

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

3. d4+1.14

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe (B02), reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d4 for White. White is clearly better (+1.14).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.143. d4 e6 4. Nh3 h6 5. f3 Ng5 6. Nf2 Nh7 7. f4 d6
  2. +1.113. d3 Nc5 4. d4 Nca6 5. Nf3 d5 6. c4 e6 7. Bg5 Be7
  3. +0.953. c3 d5 4. d3 Nc5 5. d4 Ne6 6. Be3 g6 7. f4 a5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe?
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d4 for White, continuing e6 4. Nh3 h6 5. f3 Ng5 6. Nf2 Nh7 7. f4 d6. White is clearly better (+1.14). The next best moves are 3. d3 (+1.11) and 3. c3 (+0.95).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.14: 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: Mokele Mbembe?
B02. 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+).