Alekhine's Defense report from your own games
Provoke and counterattack. See if your Alekhine's tactics deliver results.
Free • Instant Analysis • Works with any Chess.com username
Sample Report Preview
Here's what a personalized Alekhine's Defense analysis looks like
Alekhine's Defense Report
Performance vs Other Openings
Key Insights
Counterplay Against Overextended Center Missed in 58% of Four Pawns Games
What this means
How to improve
Knight on b6 Stays Passive in 72% of Games Past Move 15
What this means
How to improve
The ...d5 and ...c5 Breaks Need Better Synchronization
What this means
How to improve
Top Variations
Enter your Chess.com username to see your personalized report
What we analyze in your Alekhine's Defense games
Your counterplay against White's extended center
Your handling of the Four Pawns Attack
Your timing of the ...c5 central break
Your piece coordination in cramped positions
Your success in Modern vs Classical variations
Learn This Opening
Play through the main line move by move
Il Nero sfida immediatamente il pedone e4 col cavallo, provocando il Bianco ad avanzare ed estendersi troppo. Questo approccio ipermoderno invita il Bianco a costruire un grosso centro che il Nero modellerà in seguito. È una mossa provocatoria che porta a posizioni squilibrate.
Key Positions to Know
Critical concepts every Alekhine's Defense player should understand
The Knight Provocation
With 1...Nf6, Alekhine's Defense deliberately provokes White into advancing pawns with e5, d4, and c4 to chase the knight. The idea is that White's overextended center becomes a target for counterattack, turning apparent tempo loss into a strategic advantage.
The Four Pawns Attack
White can push f4 to create the fearsome four-pawn center (c4, d4, e5, f4). This is White's most ambitious continuation but also the most risky — the pawns can become overextended and vulnerable to Black's piece pressure and well-timed ...c5 or ...f6 breaks.
Undermining the Center
Black's main plan is to undermine White's center with ...d6, ...c5, or ...f6. Each break chips away at the pawn chain until it collapses. A perfectly timed combination of these moves can leave White's center in ruins while Black's pieces flood into the vacated squares.
Strategic Plans
♔White's Plans
- •B is o l ms vn ms ds g vs o bs vs t is bs ws pn hn wn u l k sn u qs hs cs dn ds d gn as gn ns in l fs pn ys c gn
- •I cs sn dn h j f ns e wn u fs tn js as ps cs c is tn q vn pn js in fs ls fn b dn
- •E gs h xs ys l wn bn os os bs cs gs rs gn fs u ts an qs bn hs os on qs t ms vs d b wn fn e bn r pn t h tn ns is in bn h w pn d nn an ks n tn os ds hn ps on sn hs os ys h k r sn
- •C ys bs f c fn ys bn is t pn gn is ns pn l x wn ls rs in ws m e o n m wn rn ys on as bs o dn s m hs ln is rs hn fs hs
- •A o d ys n g ms is ys qs c w vn h tn js dn yn fs hn in ls f h y in hn ds n fn k ms c x u u mn k ms rn m ms hs wn bs e h ns yn h hs o u f fn e in bn y is k n e f gn sn rs y u u ps vn y ps in ms n x mn js r h o n h m hs ts w ms ps t pn ns r hs n as g mn vs bn fs o f tn wn a r hs j as ls k vs l qs q qs a b on e u rs rn an fs q x os as g vs ps vs c pn e u ls cs d ps ys b hs sn vs l ds on is e n an fs o g cn rn h b is s ns sn as an o y bn rs an q q vs r
- •L vs js y x ds q bs js rn an s yn cn fn u rn bs u yn q a fs vn o gn bs is os c o is yn cs wn k qs ks a a vs ks c r
- •C vs w qs n hs fs in in q vn mn mn f yn wn os cn mn ts hn yn hs ds bs pn in h n r f xs cn o d fn vs a r on js ts an wn dn cs in ls o ts rs in t mn ns hs
♚Black's Plans
- •U rn fn ms ws cn f rs cs vs n q m vn d hs pn ks ns ds fs qs ln y vn tn sn d ps hs os ns ws f as dn wn
- •P ys b dn js in b ts on ds f os g vn ls h pn p vs vn gn p pn xs fn ps l p ln k a on
- •A o yn vs rs in m dn js in m on x sn d m fn gs p vs mn in e rn q b t t ns f ys is ps cn os gn on bs ln q c mn b ks as gn sn is a ps in bn a
- •R rs r k as e dn h ps ns h gn vn c x p ns qs q sn n an ls u n ls wn sn e mn cs gs a in n m bs on t m ys h ks
- •R mn y s wn y ys gn r w u bn d wn bn an x j fs ys d ds sn k w hn on l cn mn rs d pn rs on dn l ln t an ys r
- •X as d cs wn gn ds cn o ts bs on js rs an qs fn y m in as a j e fn ln o
- •M ys y c tn ms b hn a m qs e hs l b sn as ns j a nn h rn vs in j p b hs ds gn in hn x n sn ys d w as gn d j d tn
Key Variations
Explore the most important branches and transpositions in the Alekhine's Defense.
Attacco dei Quattro Pedoni
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4
E k d m vs ms h in gn ls p o ks u rs h vn js ln x j q w d an h mn ns cs b w vn y j a dn g fn rn is ls ps m e as fs s ls wn rs on r ts f k an vn an os hs pn r y l s p x n x ps h bn j an r s ys vn cs as as j an ts yn f x ms ms j s bn ps ls an rs e q gn
Variante di Cambio
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6
H t on js is ns w gn sn vn hn ms an a j is wn bn gs ls ps bs ln h x gn in ln js w sn sn dn dn ns j gn o e as p bs ps x pn mn n bs in cs rn d vn gn y ys hs wn vn c s a h rs h e n o hs os s m ks as e tn a wn rn x r os ms bn qs an b on mn hs x hs rs y d f cn dn as is vs fs l ls qs ts c p
Variante Moderna
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3
U c a m t ts rs m l in qs n wn sn gn p ps m ms w yn bs on x l h as os r bn w fn ds r ns on c a ms ys ms os y xs f in ds s in s wn f bs h c o m gn rs n dn f in mn bn l js ys an s n x ws hs pn h h k f on j gs ns ts f ps pn dn t e f is w c os gs k ls a k yn wn cn r in f vs w cs
Variante dell'Inseguimento
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5
A o yn vs rs in m dn js in m on x sn d m fn gs p vs mn in e rn q b t t ns f ys is ps cn os gn on bs ln q c mn b ks as gn sn is a ps in bn a
Original research from 3,865 real amateur games — data you won't find anywhere else.
At 1200-1400
📊White's edge is 2.2% — Black actually scores better at this level.
How This Opening Changes as You Improve
| Rating | Games | White's Edge |
|---|---|---|
| 800-1000 | 926 | +3.4%50 /0 /47 |
| 1000-1200 | 781 | +8.0%53 /0 /45 |
| 1200-1400 | 633 | -2.2%48 /0 /50 |
| 1400-1600 | 700 | +0.2%49 /0 /48 |
| 1600-1800 | 825 | -2.5%47 /0 /50 |
Based on 3,865 games · Updated March 2026
Why Play the Alekhine's Defense?
Approccio Ipermoderno
La Difesa Alekhine incarna i principi ipermoderni, permettendo al Bianco di costruire un grosso centro di pedoni prima di minarlo. Questo insegna pregevoli lezioni sulla struttura pedonale, sull'attività dei pezzi e sul concetto che controllare il centro non significa per forza occuparlo con i pedoni.
Arma a Sorpresa
Giocata molto meno di frequente di 1...e5 o 1...c5, la Difesa Alekhine sorprende molti avversari impreparati. I giocatori col Bianco che si focalizzano sulle linee principali contro 1...e5, spesso affrontano con difficoltà le sfide esclusive proposte da questa difesa, offrendo al Nero chance pratiche sin dalla prima mossa.
Controgioco Dinamico
L is k ns p d pn vn hs in ms ds j qs s hs qs ms a w u j c ts ds m t c as hs g bs f c b f wn ts s bs ts wn on hn as t xs e ds f ks t m ds wn
Scacchi Combattivi
L an o ls ds m b j p p u s yn w j ls n rs m vs on q bn ws fs rs c hs a vs ds fn hn vs h bn sn ds rs ws ts ts vn x fn hn e ks wn ps b sn ls o mn
Common Traps
Watch out for these dangerous tactical pitfalls
Trappola dell'Attacco dei Quattro Pedoni
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Nc6 7.Be3 Bf5 8.Nc3 e6 9.Nf3 Qd7 10.Be2 O-O-O 11.O-O Be7?? 12.c5
T m h mn k ps q ks ks on w q mn t q p y ts e bn g ys n sn r fn yn w e ls ms t pn e r vn qs w ls u an is vs fn d hs a pn r q in hs hs yn
Insidia della Variante dell'Inseguimento
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5 Nd5 5.Bc4 e6 6.Nc3 Nxc3?? 7.bxc3
S b ns m ds x vs hs q rs vn is o ys d ys o in pn hn ps l os b u nn u as rn an yn j in j qs a an ls is ls bs rs xs d pn yn vs ns o n js ps l os vn x gn g in is fn ns ds ps yn
Beginner Tips
D vs js f ns b ns vn m g gs an fs o yn pn on hs t b f tn in p vs n o q w ts q as
H hs r dn rs c g nn g ts x ds ys m js k a rs xs vn tn is ws hs g in ls m hn qs sn b on rn js rn hs a r os yn ys vs
J vs xs vn q dn g ln h ls rs yn u o w r n e in q s ks as u in rn k y a h as in ys ts an sn mn ts ps hs ds bs ln s hn ln ys ls d f as vs u tn xs j fn ps k cn ts pn
G c sn f nn os r j p e vs bn fs bn s ts ms wn d x as ks bn sn wn b os ms ln bn l on fn bs rn rn ps ks y n w l rs b ds ts wn hs ts rs ms ms k r hn p k pn x c os f ys vs ts j js h k ls u
P vs in wn d j sn in vn yn as fn m ys nn on xs ts c b p xs hs ps bs in ps b p vs e tn vs ps n m an hs ts q pn f ns tn ms yn h r s qs n fs f g an c yn pn b j wn w yn qn on in b ps vs
A ts rn k rn ns vn in os ks yn mn qn d fs rs yn vs hn r hn ts ls gn ls p q f gn gs o dn
P m gs mn r cs a rn a f o e ns j w k hs mn u sn l c t dn n u vn r gn in ts y qs m m b wn ds yn ls ns yn m on b j bs cn d gn t in mn ls cs js c gs cs n q t a l n ys cs gn ts k pn bn ns m d sn cs k b q ls js
E in cn p s a ls js n ms p fn k ts ys n f gs s w n ys f e s k ys t os qs rs pn u hs d fn hn an c h j bs gn cs fn rn n ns g y ls gn rn b j vs rs vs s in pn ps ps dn gn m s ys qs js x os d mn
Common Alekhine's Defense patterns we detect
We automatically check if you fall for these specific traps.
About the Alekhine's Defense
Alekhine's Defense (1. e4 Nf6) is a hypermodern opening where Black immediately attacks the e4 pawn, provoking White to advance and potentially overextend the center.
We track your counterattacking accuracy, handling of space disadvantage, and exploitation of White's overextension. We identify where cramped positions lead to mistakes.
openings.page.sections.keyThemes
openings.page.sections.notablePlayers
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Alekhine's Defense analysis
Famous Games
E h h m qs yn e sn an w qs b gs hs ys ks a yn ls pn cs t wn gs cn x t s hn gn b fs y m hs bn pn r vn g r j ts d pn b gn k q f j an gn ks in y f vn pn r n y vs
L vn n g bs s u an h qs is l in is sn pn on vs e c q ys ps tn cn r c k qs y ts ds is s c fs mn bn is x q t e n f c ys ls h j t fn bs r on rs c bn f f b
A hs bn k m yn ds n s m m x j rs c fn qs d ks u mn fs y ls cs vs yn rs in h rs ms in wn ln yn ws m gs as fs n dn gs p r as j gn mn f on t ws gn x k is ys on ys
G d h cn is ms ds is x b in ms g d hn os ts vn gn mn rs ts on as rn k rn r n h b mn n ts js vs wn s os q g ns gn ls c k p u cn ls u m c hs a hs fn d k e d is c y ls wn j os is gs sn
Learning Resources
Explore Related Openings
Analyze other openings similar to the Alekhine's Defense
How valuable was this analysis?
Ready to master your openings?
Get a complete breakdown of your play across all openings, not just the Alekhine's Defense.
No credit card required • Works with Chess.com