Chessy
Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack — The Nf4 Variation
After 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4, Black's knight hops to f4, and you calmly advance 4.d4. This is the Two Pawns Attack: Nf4 variation, and the engine already rates your position at +1.88 — a near-winning edge for White. That means you are already very clearly better, and the statistics back it up: in nearly 72,000 games, White wins 65.5% of the time. The drill below asks you to play this exact position against a training engine. Your task? Turn that big advantage into a full point by punishing Black's early knight adventure.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack: Nf4 against the engine
Free, no signup — you play white, the engine adapts to your level.
Now it's your turn — play the position against the training engine and convert your near-win into a full point!
Create a free account →What You Are Fighting For
The Alekhine Defense tempts White to push pawns and chase the knight around. After 3.c4 Nf4, Black's knight has jumped to an aggressive-looking square, but it's a mirage. Your d4 pawn gives you a massive pawn centre with e5 and d4 side by side, while Black's knight on f4 has no safe retreat and will soon be kicked away with g3 or h3. You're fighting for the right to keep that centre intact while developing your pieces with gain of time. If you respond accurately, Black's position will be cramped, underdeveloped, and ripe for a kingside attack.
The Engine's Reply and Your Plan
Stockfish's top choice is Ng6 — Black tries to save the knight before it gets trapped. Your follow-up is h4, attacking the knight again, then after e6 you play Nf3, developing and preparing to castle. The h4 pawn chases the knight to g6, where it's awkward and blocks Black's own kingside development. Don't rush to capture anything: let your pawns do the pushing while you bring out your pieces. Your centre is secure, Black has no space, and every tempo you spend developing increases your lead.
What the Statistics Reveal
Black has tried many moves here, but White scores heavily against all of them. The database of almost 72,000 games shows you exactly what works:Ng6 (31,713 games) is the most popular, yet White still scores 56.2%. Even the 'best' reply gives you a solid edge. Ne6 (17,568 games) sees White winning 62.8%. Against e6 you score an incredible 83.3% — and FACTS confirms e6 is actually a blunder. Similarly, d6 gives you 81.5% wins and is classified as a mistake. The numbers are loud and clear: once you reach this position, the hard work is done. You just need to play solidly.
The Mistakes to Punish
Three Black moves are specifically flagged as errors in this position. Watch for them: e6 is a blunder (losing about 3.0 pawns of advantage). d6 is a mistake (losing about 2.4 pawns). d5 is a blunder (losing about 3.2 pawns). Each of these moves fails to deal with the immediate threat to the knight on f4. If Black plays any of these, don't overthink: simply play g3 or h3 to trap or chase the knight, and enjoy your enormous position. The engine says the only move that keeps the game close to respectable is Ng6, so treat anything else as a gift.
Results across 71,936 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Ng6 | 31,713 | 56.2% |
| Ne6 | 17,568 | 62.8% |
| e6 | 4,839 | 83.3% |
| g5 | 4,508 | 70.6% |
| d6 | 3,977 | 81.5% |
| d5 | 3,766 | 82.9% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 4.d4 actually the best move for White in the Alekhine Two Pawns Attack?
Yes, 4.d4 is the critical move. The engine gives it a near-winning evaluation of +1.88, and White wins 65.5% of games from here in the Lichess database. It reinforces your centre and prepares to chase Black's misplaced knight on f4.
What should I do if Black plays Ng6 after 4.d4?
Follow the engine's line: h4 immediately attacks the knight again. After Black plays e6, develop with Nf3. The knight on g6 is poorly placed, and your h-pawn will keep it uncomfortable while you finish development and prepare a kingside attack.
Why is e6 a blunder for Black here?
Playing e6 does nothing to save the knight on f4, which is under threat from your pawns. It loses about 3.0 pawns of advantage because you can simply play g3 or h3 to trap or chase the knight, gaining a huge lead in development and material.
How many games feature the Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack: Nf4?
Over 71K Lichess games have reached the Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack: Nf4 position. White wins 65.5%, Black wins 31.9%, with 2.7% draws — based on real rated games.