Chessy
Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation, Krejcik Gambit as White
This gambit is sharp, fast, and a little cheeky: you give up a bishop to drag the black king into the open. But the position is not a free lunch. Stockfish rates it -0.90, a clear, lasting advantage in your opponent's favour. That means you are worse here, so the drill is about playing with energy, not pretending the attack is sound on pure merit. Focus on initiative, king safety, and keeping Black under pressure as long as you can.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation, Krejcik Gambit against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and practise the main reply against an adapting engine. Create a free account to track your progress and sharpen your attacking instincts.
Create a free account →What you are trying to achieve
After 1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 Nxe4 3.Bxf7+, the whole idea is to pull the king off its normal path and create immediate threats. As White, you are not playing a slow development game here. You are trying to use the open king, quick checks, and active piece play to make Black think before they consolidate. If the attack fizzles, your material deficit matters, so every move should have a purpose.
The engine’s answer to know
The engine’s best move is Kxf7, and that is the reply you must expect in the drill. The database also shows that this is by far the main continuation from the exact position, appearing in 45,795 games. In practical terms, you should treat Kxf7 as the normal defensive choice and be ready to keep the initiative going immediately rather than hoping for a mistake.
What the numbers say
Across 45,795 games at this exact position, White wins 48.1%, draws 3.1%, and Black wins 48.8%. Those numbers tell you this is a very concrete position: Black is not collapsing, and the game can go either way if you lose momentum. The engine score of -0.90 means Black is already clearly better, so your job is to play accurately and make the attack as uncomfortable as possible.
How to handle the forced-looking check sequence
The engine continuation given is Kxf7, continuing Kxf7 Qh5+ Kg8 Qd5+. That is the critical tactical shape to recognise in the drill. Your checks are the whole point of the opening, so be ready to keep the black king moving and to use your queen actively. If you hesitate, Black’s extra material and safer king usually take over.
Results across 45,795 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Kxf7 | 45,795 | 48.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation, Krejcik Gambit good for White?
It is sharp and can be practical, but the evaluation is -0.90, which means Black is clearly better. The database results are close, so it can still be dangerous in real games, especially if Black is not accurate. You should treat it as an attacking try, not as a fully sound advantage.
What is the main move for Black after 1.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 Nxe4 3.Bxf7+?
The engine’s best move is Kxf7, and it is also the most-played continuation in the database. In the drill, that is the reply you should expect most often. Your task then is to keep the attack going with active play.
What does the evaluation -0.90 mean here?
Stockfish rates the position -0.90, which favours Black. In simple terms, you are down in the position and need active chances to compensate. That is why this opening is more about initiative than safe development.
How should I study this opening on Chessy?
Use the drill to practise the main reply and the forcing checks that follow. The point is to get comfortable when Black answers correctly, because Kxf7 is the engine move and the main database continuation. Once you know the key defensive idea, you can play the position with much more confidence.