Chessy
Facing the Alekhine Defense: Welling Variation as White
The Alekhine Defense invites you to chase the knight with your e-pawn, but in the Welling Variation you make a quieter move on move three. Instead of the aggressive 3.d4 or 3.c4, you slide your bishop's pawn forward with 3.b3. This keeps the position flexible and avoids booked-up theory. Black's knight is sitting on d5 — now it's their turn to decide how to react. The drill below puts you in White's shoes after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.b3. Play through it and see if you can outscore the engine.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Welling Variation against the engine
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Now step into White's shoes and test yourself against the Alekhine Defense: Welling Variation with the interactive drill below.
Create a free account →What the Engine Says
Stockfish 16 gives this position a -0.28 evaluation — that's a tiny edge for Black, so you are slightly worse. Don't let that discourage you. An advantage under one-third of a pawn is practically nothing at club level, and it simply means White's position is sound but Black has no major problems yet. The game is very much alive.
The Most Important Reply: d6
Black's best move is d6, played in 2,557 games from this position — nearly half of all encounters. It puts immediate pressure on your e5 pawn. The engine's recommended follow-up is 2...d6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3, challenging the bishop before it pins your knight. White scores 44.8% in this line, meaning Black has a slight practical edge, but the positions remain rich with ideas for both sides.
Three Popular Mistakes to Exploit
Your opponents will sometimes steer clear of d6 and try something else. The statistics flag three common inaccuracies, each losing roughly 0.7 pawns compared to the best move: e6 (999 games), Nc6 (661 games), and c5 (178 games). All three are labelled inaccuracies — the engine says d6 was better each time. If Black plays any of these, you've already gained a small but meaningful edge. Against e6 and c5, White scores a solid 50.6%, and against Nc6 it's 49.3% — close to even, but remember the engine thinks you've improved your chances compared to the main line.
What About the Other Moves?
You may also see g6 (290 games, White scores 47.9%) or Nb6 (177 games, White scores 45.8%). Neither is a mistake, but they aren't as challenging as d6 either. Against g6, Black fianchettoes the bishop; you can build a broad centre with d4 and c4 in due time. After Nb6, the knight retreats to a less active square, which is good news for you — develop naturally and enjoy your extra space.
Results across 5,128 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d6 | 2,557 | 44.8% |
| e6 | 999 | 50.6% |
| Nc6 | 661 | 49.3% |
| g6 | 290 | 47.9% |
| c5 | 178 | 50.6% |
| Nb6 | 177 | 45.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Why would White play 3.b3 instead of 3.d4 or 3.c4?
The Welling Variation avoids deep theory in the main Alekhine lines. By playing 3.b3 you keep the position flexible, prepare to fianchetto your bishop, and avoid the heavy preparation that many Alekhine players have against 3.d4 or 3.c4.
Is 3.b3 a good surprise weapon?
Yes. It's played far less often than the main moves, so many Black players won't have specific knowledge of it. The statistics show White scores reasonably well, and the engine evaluation is nearly equal — making it a perfectly sound choice for club and tournament play.
How should I respond if Black plays d6?
The engine's top reply is 3.Nf3, developing a piece and defending e5. If Black pins with 4...Bg4, you can play 5.h3, asking the bishop to make a decision. From there, develop naturally and aim for a solid centre.
Which Black moves give me an advantage?
According to the data, e6, Nc6, and c5 are all inaccuracies that lose roughly 0.7 pawns. If Black plays any of these, you've already gained a small edge. For e6 and c5, White scores 50.6% at the board.
What is Stockfish's evaluation of the Alekhine Defense: Welling Variation?
At depth 16, Stockfish rates the Alekhine Defense: Welling Variation as a balanced position (-0.28) from White's perspective. This is the computer's assessment of the position after the main opening moves.