Welcome to the Alekhine Defense after 1.e4 Nf6 2.d4 Nxe4. Right out of the opening you have already grabbed a pawn and challenged White's centre. The engine evaluates the position at -0.71, a clear edge for White — wait, that doesn't sound right for you. Let's rephrase: Stockfish says -0.71, which favours Black. That means you are already clearly better. Across over 389,000 games on Lichess, Black scores an impressive 57.0%, while White only manages 39.8%. The drill below will sharpen your feel for this sharp counter-attacking line. Play through the position and see how you fare against the computer's best responses.
On this page
Play the Alekhine Defense: d4 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Test your skills in the interactive drill below. Play the Alekhine Defense as Black against the engine and turn that 57% win rate into your own result. Sign up,
Find your own #1 mistake — free →What the Statistic Tells You
The numbers here are striking. In 389,102 games from this exact position, Black wins 57.0% of the time, while White wins just 39.8% and draws occur in only 3.3% of games. That is a huge plus for you as Black. The engine's evaluation of -0.71 confirms the same story — Black has a lasting advantage. Your pawn grab is not a bluff; it is backed by both concrete engine analysis and a mountain of practical results. When you play the Alekhine Defense this way, you are steering the game into territory where Black already holds the better chances.
The Engine's Preferred Path
Stockfish's top choice for White here is Nf3, leading to the continuation Nf3 d5 c4 g6. White develops and immediately attacks your centre with the c-pawn. Your job as Black is to meet this pressure calmly. After 3.Nf3, you should play 3...d5, staking your own claim in the centre and giving your knight a retreat square. If White follows up with 4.c4, then 4...g6 is a strong response, preparing to fianchetto the bishop and maintain control of the dark squares. This line keeps Black's advantage solid — you are the one calling the shots.
The Most Popular Replies (and How to Punish Mistakes)
The most common move White actually plays is Bd3 (81,820 games), where White scores only 43.6% — a poor result. Your knight is attacked, but you can simply retreat it back to f6 or sometimes to g5, keeping the pawn and staying active. The tricky moves are the ones that are actual inaccuracies. Here are the two to watch for: - f3 (57,766 games): This loses about 0.6 pawns of advantage for White. It looks aggressive but weakens the king and wastes time. Punish it by retreating the knight and building a strong centre. The engine says Nf3 was better. - Bc4 (29,667 games): This inaccuracy costs White roughly 0.7 pawns. The bishop on c4 looks natural, but it doesn't pressure anything critical yet. Again, retreat the knight and develop with gains. When White plays either of these, your advantage grows.
Your Typical Plan After Retreating
After any sensible White move (like Bd3, Nc3, or Qf3), your knight will usually retreat to f6 or sometimes d6. Your main ideas are simple: - Control the centre: Push ...d5 and later ...c5 or ...e5 to challenge White's pawn on d4. - Develop quickly: Get your bishops out, castle kingside, and put your rooks on open or semi-open files. - Keep the pressure: White has to prove compensation for the pawn. Don't rush to give it back; make White work for any breakthrough. The Alekhine Defense leads to an unbalanced middlegame where you have a concrete material edge and active piece play. Trust the statistics — you are the one pressing for the full point.
Results across 389,102 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bd3Main line | 81,820 | 43.6% |
| 2 | f3 | 57,766 | 35.3% |
| 3 | Nf3 | 55,672 | 42.0% |
| 4 | Nc3 | 49,787 | 41.6% |
| 5 | Bc4 | 29,667 | 40.1% |
| 6 | Qf3 | 25,772 | 40.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense: d4 a good opening for beginners?
Yes, it can be. After 1.e4 Nf6 2.d4 Nxe4, you immediately win a pawn and get an unbalanced position. Black scores 57% from here, which is excellent. The plans are clear: keep the pawn, develop, and challenge White's centre. It teaches you counter-attacking principles from move three.
What should I do if White plays 3.Nc3?
3.Nc3 is a popular move (49,787 games) where White scores only 41.6%. Your knight is attacked, so retreat it, typically to f6. Your advantage holds. Develop naturally with ...d5, ...g6, and ...Bg7, keeping the extra pawn and maintaining a solid position.
Why is 3.f3 a mistake for White?
The engine classifies 3.f3 as an inaccuracy that costs White about 0.6 pawns. The move weakens the e1-h4 diagonal, wastes a tempo, and doesn't help development. Instead of pressuring you, it gives you time to retreat your knight and build a powerful centre. Black's win rate jumps after this move.
What does Stockfish think of the Alekhine Defense: d4 line?
At depth 16, Stockfish evaluates this position at -0.71, which clearly favours Black. This is not a tiny edge — it is a meaningful, lasting advantage. Combined with the 57% Black win rate in practice, you can trust that your position is objectively better right from the start.
How many games feature the Alekhine Defense: d4?
Over 389K Lichess games have reached the Alekhine Defense: d4 position. White wins 39.8%, Black wins 57.0%, with 3.3% draws — based on real rated games.