ECO B02 · Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense: Steiner Variation

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. b3

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

4… c5+0.07

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Alekhine Defense: Steiner Variation (B02), reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. b3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… c5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.07).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.074… c5 5. Nf3 d6 6. exd6 Nc6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd6 9. Bb2
  2. +0.104… d6 5. exd6 Qxd6 6. d4 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. Be2 Bxf3 9. Bxf3
  3. +0.244… Nc6 5. d4 d6 6. e6 fxe6 7. Bb2 e5 8. d5 Nd4 9. Bd3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: Steiner Variation?
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. b3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… c5 for Black, continuing 5. Nf3 d6 6. exd6 Nc6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd6 9. Bb2. The position is roughly equal (+0.07). The next best moves are 4… d6 (+0.10) and 4… Nc6 (+0.24).
Is the Alekhine Defense: Steiner Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.07: the position is roughly equal. 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: Steiner Variation?
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+).