Chessy
Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation with 3.Nf3
After 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nf3, Black answers with the principled 3...c5 — immediately challenging White's centre and fighting for space. You are playing as Black in the Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation: Nf3, and the position is more comfortable than the raw numbers suggest. Stockfish rates this +0.50 — a small edge for White — so you are slightly worse according to the engine, but in practice the results tell a different story. White scores only 52.8% across over 226,000 games, meaning Black holds up extremely well. Scroll down to play the interactive drill and test yourself against the most dangerous replies.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation: Nf3 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Now it's your turn. Head to the interactive board below and practice the Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation: Nf3 as Black — face the most common White moves and
Create a free account →What Black Is Fighting For
The Alekhine Defence is a provocative system: you invite White to push pawns and overextend, then counter-attack the centre later. After 3...c5, you are already questioning White's pawn on e5 and preparing to develop your pieces to useful squares. The engine's top move here is Nc3, which aims to keep pressure on your knight on d5 and maintain the pawn on e5. But White's most popular choices are c4 (82,785 games) and Bc4 (69,442 games) — both practical tries that you will face often. Your job is straightforward: develop smoothly, avoid unnecessary pawn weaknesses, and be ready to strike at the centre once White's pawns become targets.
The Engine's Best Line — and What It Teaches You
Stockfish recommends 4.Nc3 for White, followed by 4...e6 5.Ne4 f5. This line reveals a key pattern: White wants to trade off your active knight on d5 and force you to create a potential weakness with ...f5. In reply, you should welcome the trade — after ...f5 you gain space on the kingside and can later target White's central pawns with moves like ...d6. The engine evaluates this as +0.50, a small edge for White, but as Black you get a very playable position with clear counterplay. If your opponent doesn't know the precise continuation, you can quickly equalise or even take over.
What the Statistics Reveal
From 226,255 games at this exact position, White's win rate is 52.8%, draws 3.4%, and Black wins 43.8%. Those are excellent numbers for a Black defence — Black scores nearly as well as White, despite the engine's +0.50 evaluation. Look at White's results by reply: c4 (White scores 53.6%) and d4 (52.9%) are solid but nothing scary. Bc4 gives White only 50.8%, which is almost dead equal. The real outlier is Nc3 (White scores 61.1%) — the engine's top choice is also the one Black must prepare for most carefully. The rarest move, d3, is played only 1,042 times and yields White just 47.7%, but the FACTS tell us it is a mistake that loses about 1.1 pawns.
The One Mistake to Punish
If White plays 4.d3, the engine says it is a clear mistake (losing roughly 1.1 pawns; the better move was Nc3). This is a great moment to know as the Black player. After 4.d3, White fails to challenge your knight on d5 or maintain the pressure on c5. You can respond actively — for instance, by developing your dark-squared bishop to g7 or e7, or by playing ...Nc6 and preparing ...d6 to break open the centre. In the drill below, the engine will play the best responses to whatever you choose, but keep an eye out for 4.d3 from a less-prepared opponent. It's your chance to turn the tables immediately.
Results across 226,255 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| c4 | 82,785 | 53.6% |
| Bc4 | 69,442 | 50.8% |
| d4 | 39,148 | 52.9% |
| c3 | 19,348 | 52.6% |
| Nc3 | 10,276 | 61.1% |
| d3 | 1,042 | 47.7% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense Normal Variation Nf3 a good opening for beginners?
Yes — it teaches you how to handle pawn centres and counter-attack from move one. The statistics show Black scores a solid 43.8% win rate, which is excellent for a Black defence, and the positions are rich in typical chess themes: underdevelopment, centre tension, and piece activity.
How should Black respond to 4.c4 from White?
After 4.c4, your knight on d5 is attacked. You can move it to b6, c7, or even back to f6 — each has its own plan. The most common reply is 4...Nb6, keeping the knight active and keeping an eye on the c5 and d6 squares. In the drill, you can explore different retreats and see which scores best.
Why does Stockfish say +0.50 but Black scores so well practically?
The engine sees a small White advantage because of space and development, but club-level play is full of defensive and counter-attacking chances for Black. White's 52.8% win rate is modest, meaning Black equalises or outplays White frequently. The Alekhine is a practical opening, not just a theoretical one.
What should I do if White plays 4.Nc3, the engine's top move?
Play 4...e6, preparing to recapture on d5 or challenge White's knight. After 5.Ne4, your best reply is 5...f5, gaining kingside space and driving the knight back. This is the main line and gives Black a playable position with clear counterplay against White's centre.