Chess lessons › Chess openings
Alekhine’s Defence
Black attacks e4 with the knight at once, inviting White’s pawns forward before striking at them.
The idea
Black attacks e4 with a knight instead of occupying the centre.
- Black’s knight on f6 attacks the pawn on e4 at once.
- White’s pawn is attacked a single move into the game.
- White can push it to e5, chasing the knight and gaining space.
In a game: Spot it when Black meets 1.e4 with 1...Nf6 instead of a centre pawn.
How the lesson begins
1.e4 can be met by attacking the pawn at once with the knight, rather than with a pawn in the centre. This is Alekhine’s Defence, played in only about 1% of games after 1.e4 among players rated 1200 to 1599.
- 1. e4 White takes the centre.
- 1... Nf6 Black attacks the pawn on e4 at once.
Find the move
White to move. The knight attacks your pawn. Push it forward, gaining space and time.
A hint
The pawn on e4 can advance one square, and then it attacks the knight.
Show the answer
2. e5
e5 gains space and chases the knight away. Black can put it on d5, in the centre. Later, the pawn on e5 can become a target for Black.
In numbers
How often it is played
| Rating | Value |
|---|---|
| Under 800 | 17 |
| 800 to 1199 | 7.6 |
| 1200 to 1599 | 4.5 |
| 1600 to 1999 | 6.2 |
| 2000 and up | 11 |
How the games ended
White won 48%, 5% were drawn and Black won 47%, over 12,257 games that start this way, in a sample of rated Lichess games from 2026.