Chessy
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense for Black
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 a6, you have reached the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense. This is the exact position in the drill, and it is White to move. Stockfish rates this +0.24, a small edge for White. That means you are not worse, but you still need to know your reply plans and the one move the engine prefers most. The exercise below lets you practise the position until the ideas become natural.
Play the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Alekhine Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position tells you
The opening has already chosen a clear shape. Black has accepted the gambit and then played a6, so the position is about handling White's central and development choices rather than grabbing more pawns. The engine evaluation is close, and that is useful news for Black: you are not fighting from a lost position, but you do need accurate play. In practice, this opening asks you to stay calm, finish development, and meet White's most natural continuations with sound development of your own.
The engine's main reply to know
The engine's best move here is e3, with the continuation e3 e6 Bxc4 Nf6. You should understand the simple purpose behind that reply: White wants to recover the pawn and develop smoothly. For Black, the lesson is to be ready for that kind of central play and to continue development without drifting. In the drill, try to recognise that this is a normal opening battle, not a position where you can rely on tricks.
What the database says White usually tries
This exact position has been played 69,901 times in the Lichess database, so there is a large sample of real games to learn from. The most-played continuations are e3, e4, Nc3, a4, g3, and Bf4. That tells you White has several natural ways to continue, and Black should be comfortable facing all of them. The good news is that the position is broad and practical, not forced, so understanding the ideas matters more than memorising long theory.
One mistake to watch for
The listed mistake here is Bf4, which is an inaccuracy and loses ~0.7 pawns; better was e3. That is a strong clue for the drill: if White chooses Bf4, Black has already gained something by steering the game away from White's best choice. As Black, your job is to notice when White has drifted from the strongest continuation and then keep your development smooth and purposeful. Do not get distracted by material ideas; simple piece development and central control still matter most.
Results across 69,901 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e3 | 19,110 | 54.7% |
| e4 | 13,593 | 52.0% |
| Nc3 | 13,182 | 53.4% |
| a4 | 12,302 | 57.2% |
| g3 | 5,485 | 54.9% |
| Bf4 | 2,418 | 49.5% |
Frequently asked questions
How good is this opening for Black?
Stockfish gives +0.24, which is a small edge for White. That means Black is not in trouble, and the position is still very playable. In practical terms, you should treat it as a level opening where accuracy matters.
What is the best move for White here?
The engine's best move is e3. The listed continuation is e3 e6 Bxc4 Nf6, which shows White's simple plan of regaining the pawn and developing.
What do most players choose in this position?
The most-played continuations are e3, e4, Nc3, a4, g3, and Bf4. That is a useful guide for your drill because it shows the kinds of developing moves and pawn pushes White actually uses most often.
What should I be ready for as Black?
Be ready for White to develop naturally and recover the c4 pawn. Since the position is close to equal, your main task is to keep developing cleanly and respond accurately to White's most common moves.