ECO D22 · Queen's Gambit Accepted

Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6

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

4. e3+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense (D22), reached after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. e3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.354. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 Nf6 6. O-O c5 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5
  2. +0.094. e4 b5 5. a4 Bb7 6. axb5 axb5 7. Rxa8 Bxa8 8. Nc3 e6
  3. +0.084. Nc3 e6 5. a4 Nc6 6. e3 Na5 7. Ne5 Bb4 8. Nxc4 c5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense?
After 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. e3 for White, continuing e6 5. Bxc4 Nf6 6. O-O c5 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 4. e4 (+0.09) and 4. Nc3 (+0.08).
Is the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: white is slightly 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 Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense?
D22. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; D is the volume for closed and semi-closed games.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).