Chessy
Alekhine Defense: what to do after 1.e4 Nf6
The Alekhine Defense begins with a direct challenge: you let White advance, then look for the right counterplay. In this lesson, you are Black and the drill starts from the very first fork in the road after 1.e4 Nf6. The position is not equal yet, so the key is to know the engine’s answer and understand which White moves are most common, which ones are inaccurate, and which ones you should expect to see again and again.
Play the Alekhine Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position tells you
Stockfish rates this +0.57, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
The opening is still fully playable, but you should not drift. Your goal is to meet White’s most natural moves with a clear reaction and avoid giving away more space than necessary. The drill helps you practise the first important decision, because this exact position appears a huge amount in real games and White has several frequent ways to continue.
The engine’s main answer
The engine’s best move here is e5. In the best continuation given, the game can continue e5 Nd5 d4 d6.
That is the practical message of the opening: Black should strike back immediately instead of waiting passively. When White has already taken space, your counterplay often starts by challenging the centre at once. In the drill, focus on recognising this pattern quickly so you can build your plan around it.
What White usually tries
The most-played continuation is e5, with 7,883,479 games and White scoring 51.2%. The next most common move is Nc3, with 6,626,907 games and White scoring 49.8%.
Other frequent tries are Nf3 with 1,447,068 games and White scoring 45.0%, d3 with 1,329,934 games and White scoring 47.7%, Bc4 with 626,160 games and White scoring 46.4%, and Qf3 with 349,077 games and White scoring 48.9%.
This means you need to be ready for both the direct advance and the quieter developing moves. Do not guess: use the drill to make the right reply automatic.
The moves to punish first
There are three known mistakes in this position that are especially useful to remember.
- Nc3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; better was e5.
- Nf3 is a mistake and loses about 1.4 pawns; better was e5.
- d3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.7 pawns; better was e5.
The common theme is simple: if White does not make the central commitment Black is expecting, you still want to respond actively. This is not a position where you should sit back and hope White overreaches later.
How the statistics compare
Across 19,034,112 games at this exact position in the Lichess database, White wins 49.5%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 46.7%.
Those numbers say White has a modest practical edge, so this opening is not a free ride for Black. Your job is to know the first strong reaction, stay alert to the most common White moves, and avoid drifting into a passive game. If you like a defence where accurate counterplay matters from move one, this is a good training ground.
Results across 19,034,112 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 7,883,479 | 51.2% |
| Nc3 | 6,626,907 | 49.8% |
| Nf3 | 1,447,068 | 45.0% |
| d3 | 1,329,934 | 47.7% |
| Bc4 | 626,160 | 46.4% |
| Qf3 | 349,077 | 48.9% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the main idea of the Alekhine Defense?
The idea is to provoke White into overextending and then challenge the centre. In this exact position, the engine’s best move is **e5**, so Black’s counterplay starts immediately rather than waiting passively.
What should I play after 1.e4 Nf6?
In this lesson position, the engine’s best move is **e5**. The continuation given is **e5 Nd5 d4 d6**, which shows the kind of active play Black is aiming for.
Which White moves are most common here?
The most-played continuation is **e5**, followed by **Nc3** and **Nf3**. You should also expect **d3**, **Bc4**, and **Qf3** to appear regularly, so the drill is useful for pattern recognition.
Is the Alekhine Defense good for Black?
This exact position gives White a small edge: Stockfish rates it +0.57. That means you are slightly worse here, so good preparation and active play matter if you want to equalise.
How many games feature the Alekhine Defense?
Over 19 million Lichess games have reached the Alekhine Defense position. White wins 49.5%, Black wins 46.7%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.