Chessy
Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation – g6 System for White
If you play 1.e4, you've almost certainly faced 1…Nf6. The Alekhine Defense is a hypermodern try that lets Black provoke your centre pawns, then chip away at them. In the Maróczy Variation with g6, Black fianchettoes early — and after 1.e4 Nf6 2.d3 g6 3.e5 you reach a critical fork in the road. The engine says this position is dead level at +0.04, so nothing is decided yet. But the statistics reveal a huge difference between Black's good moves and their bad ones. Your job? Know which replies to punish and how. Jump into the drill below and train yourself to spot the difference.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation: g6 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Ready to make Black pay for their mistakes? Step into the interactive drill below, face the position after 3.e5, and practice refuting every bad reply the Alekh
Create a free account →What You're Fighting For – The e5 Pawn
This is not a quiet system. By playing 2.d3 and then 3.e5, you've told Black: I'm kicking your knight immediately. The e5 pawn is your main asset — it cramps Black's kingside and grabs space. Black's knight has to move, and the square it picks matters enormously. If Black plays accurately with Nd5, the position stays roughly equal at +0.04 for White. But if Black chooses a passive or awkward square, the advantage swings your way fast. Your whole plan revolves around making that e5 pawn a permanent nuisance while you develop naturally.
The Engine's Answer: 4.Nd5
The top engine move at depth 16 is 4.Nd5, and it comes with a clear follow-up plan. After 4…d6 the idea is to meet 5.exd6, opening the centre on your terms. Black's knight on d5 can be challenged later with c4 or simply become a target as you develop your pieces. Even though the position is balanced, this line gives you clean, principled development — no tricks, no traps, just sound chess. The point is that 4.Nd5 forces Black to prove they know what they're doing.
What the Numbers Say – Good Moves vs. Bad Moves
The database of 8,051 games reveals three tiers of Black replies. Here's what each one means for you: - Nd5 (5,861 games, White scores 45.2%): This is the hardest test. Black's best move, and you'll need to play accurately (start with 5.d4). - Ng8 (857 games, White scores 48.9%): An odd retreat, but White barely has an edge. Black gives you time — use it to build a pawn centre with d4. - Nh5 (644 games, White scores 53.0%): This is an inaccuracy, losing about 0.6 pawns. The knight looks active but is misplaced; you can gain space with g4 or simply develop with d4. - Bg7 (509 games, White scores 63.3%): A blunder losing about 3.3 pawns. Black ignores the knight — punish it! You can win the knight immediately with… well, you'll see in the drill. - Ng4 (118 games, White scores 54.2%): Another blunder, losing about 3.5 pawns. The knight on g4 has no support and can be chased away with h3, winning time. - d6 (36 games, White scores 66.7%): This move fights the centre directly but White is doing very well after 5.exd6.
Punish Black's Blunders – The Big Payoff
The two biggest traps to watch for are Bg7 and Ng4. Against Bg7 (a 3.3-pawn blunder), Black develops the fianchetto without first moving the knight. You have a direct tactical shot — the knight on f6 is still attacked by your e5 pawn. Spot the capture and you're winning. Against Ng4 (a 3.5-pawn blunder), Black puts the knight on a square where a simple h3 from you gains time and forces it to retreat awkwardly. Both of these mistakes happen often enough (over 600 games combined) that knowing them will earn you easy points. The drill below lets you practice refuting them until it's automatic.
Results across 8,051 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nd5 | 5,861 | 45.2% |
| Ng8 | 857 | 48.9% |
| Nh5 | 644 | 53.0% |
| Bg7 | 509 | 63.3% |
| Ng4 | 118 | 54.2% |
| d6 | 36 | 66.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense Maróczy g6 good for White?
At the top level the position is completely equal (+0.04), so neither side is better out of the opening. But in practical play below master level, White scores well because Black's alternatives to Nd5 are genuinely bad — and those bad moves are played surprisingly often.
What should White do after Black plays 4…Nd5?
The engine recommends continuing with 5.d4, building a strong pawn centre. Black will likely reply 5…d6, after which you capture 6.exd6 and open the position while Black's knight on d5 can become a target for your c-pawn.
Why is 4…Bg7 a blunder for Black?
Because the knight on f6 is still under attack by your e5 pawn. Black plays a developing move instead of saving the knight, and you can simply capture it — winning a piece for a pawn, a 3.3-pawn advantage according to the engine.
How do I handle 4…Ng4 from Black?
Black's knight jumps to g4, where it has no support and can be harassed. A simple h3 (or even d4, threatening to trap it) forces the knight to move again, losing Black time. The engine rates this as a 3.5-pawn blunder, so you're already much better.