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Track this line:
The position
What Alekhine Defense puts on the board
Material is level, with white to move.
White has central pawns on e4.
White can still castle either side; Black can still castle either side.
White’s plan
What White is trying to build
Use the space gained by advancing pawns, but keep the chain defendable.
Develop pieces before making another pawn push against the knight.
Black’s plan
How Black challenges it
Provoke and then undermine the advanced centre.
Return the knight to activity while striking with …d6 and …c5.
The idea
The tactical pattern to recognise
Advanced pawns can be attacked at their base.
Knight retreats may invite a fork if the central pawns advance with tempo.
The mistake
What to check before committing
Pushing one more pawn while the rest of the army stays home.
Retreating the knight without beginning pressure on the centre.
Continue
Choose the next book move
Hover a move to preview it. Click it to play it.
Reference links and alternate move orders
Move orders
1.e4 Nf61.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d41.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d61.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4
