ECO B02 · Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe, Vavra Defense

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4 3. d4 e6

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

4. Ne2+1.26

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe, Vavra Defense (B02), reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4 3. d4 e6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Ne2 for White. White is clearly better (+1.26).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.264. Ne2 f6 5. Nf4 Qe7 6. Bd3 d5 7. O-O fxe5 8. dxe5 Nc6
  2. +1.154. Nh3 h6 5. f3 Ng5 6. Nf2 Nh7 7. f4 Be7 8. Be3 d5
  3. +0.894. g3 f6 5. f3 Ng5 6. exf6 gxf6 7. f4 Nf7 8. Nf3 d5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe, Vavra Defense?
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4 3. d4 e6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Ne2 for White, continuing f6 5. Nf4 Qe7 6. Bd3 d5 7. O-O fxe5 8. dxe5 Nc6. White is clearly better (+1.26). The next best moves are 4. Nh3 (+1.15) and 4. g3 (+0.89).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe, Vavra Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.26: 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, Vavra Defense?
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+).