Chessy
Facing the Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation with e6
The Alekhine Defense is a tricky customer — Black invites you to push your centre pawns, hoping to undermine them later. In the Maróczy Variation with e6, you as White have already played the modest 2.d3 instead of the more aggressive 2.e5, and now after 1.e4 Nf6 2.d3 e6 3.e5, you've kicked the knight. The engine gives you a small edge here (+0.41), and across over ten thousand games, White wins half the time. The question is: which reply from Black should you hope for — and how do you punish the bad ones? The drill below will sharpen your instincts in this position.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation: e6 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Test yourself against the engine in our interactive drill. You play White — see if you can refute Black's mistakes and convert the +0.41 edge into a full point.
Create a free account →The big picture: what you're fighting for
With 1.e4 Nf6 2.d3 e6 3.e5, you've already made a subtle choice: you're not playing the mainline Alekhine (2.e5 Nd5), but instead you've kept a flexible pawn structure. Black's knight has to move, and the most popular retreat is 3...Nd5 — seen in over 8,700 of the 10,457 games in the database. After 3...Nd5 you can push with 4.d4 or develop naturally, keeping a comfortable space advantage. Stockfish evaluates the position at +0.41, a real but manageable edge for you. You're not crushing Black, but you have a pleasant game: more space, easier development, and the potential to build a strong centre if Black misplays.
The engine's top move and the winning plan
The engine's best continuation is 3...Nd5, followed by the line 4.d4 d6 5.c4 — a straightforward plan where you claim a massive pawn centre. Black will try to chip away at your pawns with moves like ...d6 or ...c5, but if you stay precise, your spatial advantage can snowball. Notice that the engine favours 3...Nd5 as Black's best response, meaning any other move Black tries is a gift. As White, your task is to recognise the most common retreat, know to meet it with d4 and c4, and then punish Black if they choose something else.
What the statistics reveal — and what to punish
The numbers from 10,457 Lichess games tell a clear story. Black's most frequent reply is 3...Nd5 (8,730 games), where White scores 49.9% — nearly even, which matches the engine's assessment that this is Black's toughest defence. But look at the alternatives: - 3...d5 (166 games): White scores 67.5% — a huge jump. - 3...Ng4 (109 games): White scores 68.8% — even better. - 3...Be7 (81 games): White scores 60.5%. - 3...Bb4+ (51 games): White scores 60.8%. The database confirms what the engine says: 3...d5 is a mistake (losing ~3.0 pawns), 3...Ng4 is a blunder (losing ~3.7 pawns), and 3...Be7 is a mistake (losing ~2.8 pawns). If Black plays any of these, you have a clear advantage — learn to exploit them in the drill.
How to handle Black's best try: 3...Nd5
When Black plays the principled retreat 3...Nd5 (49.9% scoring for White), your plan is simple: 4.d4, claiming the centre. Black's most common reply is 4...d6, and you can meet it with 5.c4, kicking the knight again. The knight usually goes to b6 or f6, and you get a classical pawn centre with e5 and d4. From there, develop naturally: Nf3, Be2 or Bd3, 0-0, and watch for Black's typical counterplay with ...c5 or ...f6. Even though this line is Black's best, you're still slightly better (+0.41) — trust the engine and don't overpress.
Results across 10,457 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nd5 | 8,730 | 49.9% |
| Ng8 | 1,098 | 47.4% |
| d5 | 166 | 67.5% |
| Ng4 | 109 | 68.8% |
| Be7 | 81 | 60.5% |
| Bb4+ | 51 | 60.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation with e6 good for White?
Yes, Stockfish gives White a small but clear edge of +0.41 in this position. White wins 50.7% of games, with only 3.6% draws and 45.7% Black wins. While it's not a knockout, you have a healthy advantage if you know the right responses.
What is the best move for Black after 1.e4 Nf6 2.d3 e6 3.e5?
The engine's best move is 3...Nd5, which is also the most popular choice (8,730 out of 10,457 games). The engine then recommends 4.d4 d6 5.c4 for White, building a strong centre. Any other move by Black — like 3...d5, 3...Ng4, or 3...Be7 — is a mistake that hands you a much bigger advantage.
Is 3...d5 a mistake in the Alekhine Maróczy with e6?
Yes. 3...d5 is classified as a mistake that loses about 3.0 pawns compared to the best move (3...Nd5). White scores a whopping 67.5% after 3...d5, so you should be delighted if Black plays this. Simply capture or develop with a tempo, and you'll have a commanding position.
How do I punish 3...Ng4 as White?
3...Ng4 is a blunder according to the engine, losing about 3.7 pawns. White scores 68.8% after this move — your best chance is to push with f4 or develop with a threat, exploiting the misplaced knight. The exact continuation is best explored in the drill, but the key idea is that Black's knight has no good square and you can attack it with tempo.