ECO B02 · Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense: The Squirrel

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nf4

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

4. d4+1.41

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Alekhine Defense: The Squirrel (B02), reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nf4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. d4 for White. White is clearly better (+1.41).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.414. d4 Ng6 5. h4 e6 6. h5 Nh4 7. Nc3 d6 8. exd6 Bxd6
  2. +0.874. g3 Ng6 5. d4 d6 6. exd6 Qxd6 7. Nf3 e5 8. Bg2 exd4
  3. +0.824. Nc3 c5 5. d4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Ne6 7. Qe4 g6 8. Be3 Bg7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Alekhine Defense: The Squirrel?
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nf4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. d4 for White, continuing Ng6 5. h4 e6 6. h5 Nh4 7. Nc3 d6 8. exd6 Bxd6. White is clearly better (+1.41). The next best moves are 4. g3 (+0.87) and 4. Nc3 (+0.82).
Is the Alekhine Defense: The Squirrel a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.41: 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: The Squirrel?
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+).