Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation for Black

This opening is hard to ignore because Black voluntarily gives White space and time before the middlegame has even started. That means your first priority is simple: do not drift, and do not waste more moves than you must. In the resulting position, White is to move, so you must be ready for direct central play and fast development from your opponent.

The engine’s main recommendation is d4, and that is a useful clue. White usually wants to claim the centre immediately, and you should answer by staying coordinated and keeping your position compact. The point is not to win the opening with a trick. The point is to survive the early pressure and reach a playable middlegame.

Stockfish rates this +0.88, a clear, lasting advantage for White. That means you are already worse, and you need to treat the opening as a defence rather than a fight for the initiative.

The database backs that up across 475,012 games at this exact position. White wins 55.6%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 40.6%. In practical terms, this is not the kind of position where you can rely on theory alone. You need to know the correct reactions and avoid helping White by making things easier than they already are.

The engine’s best move is d4, and the listed continuation is d4 d6 Nf3 dxe5. That shows the basic direction: White takes space, and Black has to challenge the centre with careful piece play and timing.

For a beginner or club player, the important lesson is to answer the central advance without getting distracted by side ideas. Keep your pieces active, make sure your development does not fall behind, and stay alert for White’s lead in space. The drill will let you practise this position until the response feels natural.

White’s most common continuations all aim for quick development and central control. The database shows d4 as the main choice with 316,001 games, followed by Nf3 with 81,189, f4 with 25,471, Bc4 with 21,059, Nc3 with 14,156, and c4 with 7,593.

Two of those moves are flagged as mistakes or inaccuracies. Bc4 is an inaccuracy, and c4 is a mistake; in both cases, the better move is d4. That is valuable practical information: if White hesitates or chooses a less precise setup, you should stay disciplined and let them feel the cost of giving up the most direct central plan.

This is a good choice if you are comfortable playing from a slightly cramped or awkward position for a while and you trust yourself to defend accurately. It suits players who are patient, realistic, and willing to meet White’s first central push without trying to force equality immediately.

If you prefer openings where Black gets easy equality and a familiar structure, this may not be your ideal weapon. But if you want an offbeat defence that leads to a clear strategic test, the Brooklyn Variation gives you exactly that: one early decision, then a battle to prove you can handle White’s extra space.