Chessy
Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack – Playing White After 4.d4
You've pushed your pawns boldly. After 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4, you've built a massive pawn centre with space everywhere — but Black is ready to chip away at it. This is the Two Pawns Attack of the Alekhine Defense, and you'll face it from White's side. Stockfish rates this position +0.63, a clear plus for you. Black has several ways to respond, and knowing which one is critical can decide whether your centre holds or collapses. Use the interactive drill below to practise punishing Black's most popular — and most mistaken — replies before they happen in your own games.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack: Nb6 against the engine
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Head to the interactive drill below and practise facing each of Black's replies — the engine adapts to your level, so you'll learn to punish mistakes and hold a
Create a free account →Your Space Advantage Is Real — Handle It Right
With pawns on e5, c4, and d4, you dominate the centre. That space is your main asset, but it comes with a warning: every pawn is a target if you don't develop quickly. Black's knight on b6 has been kicked around and will try to prove your centre is overextended. The engine's best continuation — d6, then 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 — shows the typical fight: Black challenges your centre immediately, you trade, and development continues. Your job is not to cling to every pawn but to use your space lead to get your pieces out faster than Black can undermine you.
The Critical Reply: Black's Most Popular Move
By far, Black's most common response here is 4...d6 — it appears in over 860,000 of the 1,142,535 games from this exact position. Despite its massive popularity, it only scores 47.1% for White, which is actually below your overall result from this tabiya. Why? Because 4...d6 leads to sharp, tactical play where Black knows the follow-up. The engine's main line runs 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3, and from there the game opens into a dynamic pawn-structure fight. You'll want to develop quickly and keep your centre coordinated. Don't memorise 20 moves; do understand that the d6 line tests your ability to develop under pressure.
Which Replies Reward White — and Which Are Traps?
While 4...d6 is the toughest test, Black has other options that score much better for you. Take these numbers to heart: 4...e6 (107,264 games, White scores 54.9%), 4...d5 (93,782 games, White scores 55.7%), and 4...c6 (8,040 games, White scores 59.9%). These moves are more passive — Black doesn't immediately challenge d4, giving you time to consolidate. Against 4...e6 or 4...d5, simply continue developing with Nc3 and keep your centre coordinated. The scores tell you that when Black plays timidly, your massive pawn centre tells the whole story.
Punish Black's Biggest Mistakes
Two Black moves here have been identified as concrete errors you can exploit. If Black plays 4...Nc6, the engine says it's a mistake costing roughly 1.8 pawns of advantage. The knight moves to a natural-looking square but fails to address your d4-e5 pawn centre — continue calmly developing and keep your pawns coordinated. Even more common among weaker players is 4...g6, an inaccuracy that costs Black around 0.7 pawns. Black fianchettoes the bishop, but you have time to build a crushing centre before the dark-squared bishop ever becomes relevant. Whenever you see either of these, know you've already outplayed your opponent in the opening.
Results across 1,142,535 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d6 | 860,959 | 47.1% |
| e6 | 107,264 | 54.9% |
| d5 | 93,782 | 55.7% |
| Nc6 | 48,021 | 49.7% |
| g6 | 11,250 | 52.5% |
| c6 | 8,040 | 59.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Alekhine Defense Two Pawns Attack good for White?
Yes. Stockfish evaluates the position after 4.d4 as +0.63 in favour of White — a meaningful advantage at the engine level. Database results show White wins 49.0% of games compared to Black's 47.4%, with 3.5% draws. The edge is real, but it requires accurate play to convert.
What is the best move for Black after 4.d4 in the Two Pawns Attack?
According to the engine, the best move for Black is 4...d6, continuing the attack on your centre. This is also the most-played move by a huge margin. From there the main line runs 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3, leading to a sharp but balanced fight.
Why is 4...Nc6 a mistake for Black?
4...Nc6 loses roughly 1.8 pawns worth of advantage, according to the engine. The knight develops to a natural square but does nothing to challenge your d4-e5 pawn duo, and it prevents Black from playing ...c5 in one move. You can punish it by calmly developing and keeping your centre intact.
How should White handle 4...e6 or 4...d5?
These moves score well for White (54.9% and 55.7% respectively) because they are more passive. Black doesn't immediately challenge your d4-e5 centre, giving you time to develop with Nc3 and keep your pawns coordinated. Simply consolidate your space and maintain piece activity — your centre advantage should be enough to press for a win.