Learn
The big idea
What the Alekhine Defence is really about.
A daring, hypermodern reply to 1.e4. Black ignores the centre and instead pokes White's e-pawn with the knight, inviting the pawns forward. The plan is to let White build an impressive-looking pawn front, then attack and undermine it from the wings — if the centre overextends, it becomes a target rather than a strength.
- White's plan: Accept the invitation to expand: chase the knight with pawns, occupy the centre with broad gains of space, and try to convert that space into a lasting bind before Black can chip the pawns away.
- Black's plan: Provoke the pawns forward, retreat the knight to safe squares, and then strike at the overextended centre with breaks like ...d6 and ...c5 or ...f6, proving the pawns are weak and winning them as targets.
What is Black's entire strategy in the Alekhine?
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