Chessy
Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System as Black
After 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6, White has a big centre and you have chosen a sharp way to challenge it. This position is all about timing: if you react carelessly, White can keep more space and easier development. The drill below lets you practise the key move, see how White usually continues, and learn which replies are most likely to punish you if you drift. It is a practical position, but the engine’s verdict is clear: you need accurate play.
Play the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System against the engine
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Create a free account →The engine’s verdict is not in your favour
Stockfish rates this +0.66, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. Across 1,318,864 games at this exact position, White wins 55.1%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 41.2%. So this is not a “safe equaliser” position: you are already under a bit of pressure, and your first few moves matter a lot.
What you are trying to do
Your main job is to hit White’s centre before it becomes too comfortable. The engine’s best move is e5, and that is the clearest practical message in this position. If you delay too long, White can keep more space and develop smoothly. In this opening, Black is not trying to sit back and hope; Black is trying to challenge the centre immediately and make White prove the extra pawns are worth it.
White’s most common choices
The most-played continuation is Nc3, with 846,177 games and White scoring 55.3%. The engine also sees e5 very often, with 367,825 games and White scoring 56.7%. Those two moves alone account for the great majority of games in the position, so you should expect them in the drill. The other listed tries are Bxc4, f3, Nf3, and Bg5, but the practical battle usually starts with Nc3 or e5.
Moves you should know to punish
There are clear warning signs here. Nc3 is marked as an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; the better move was e5. Bxc4 is a mistake and loses about 1.1 pawns; again, e5 was better. f3 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns, with e5 as the better choice. In other words, if White spends time or grabs material without meeting your central challenge, you are often ready to seize the initiative.
How the best reply usually develops
The engine line for the best move is e5, continuing e5 Nd5 Bxc4 Nb6. You do not need to memorise a long tree, but you should recognise the idea: Black strikes at the centre right away, then keeps the position active instead of letting White coast. In this structure, that central break is the move the drill wants you to find again and again.
Results across 1,318,864 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 846,177 | 55.3% |
| e5 | 367,825 | 56.7% |
| Bxc4 | 68,957 | 48.6% |
| f3 | 15,281 | 49.1% |
| Nf3 | 8,878 | 50.1% |
| Bg5 | 2,621 | 41.1% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the main idea for Black in this opening?
Black’s main idea is to challenge White’s centre quickly. In this position, the engine’s best move is e5, so the opening is built around immediate central counterplay rather than slow development.
Is this position good for Black?
No. Stockfish gives +0.66, a small edge for White, so you are slightly worse here. The position is playable, but you need accurate moves to avoid drifting further behind.
Which White moves should I expect most often?
The most-played continuations are Nc3 and e5, and they appear very often in the database. If you are training this line, those are the replies you are most likely to face in practice.
Which White moves are the most important to remember?
Nc3 is an inaccuracy, Bxc4 is a mistake, and f3 is an inaccuracy. In each case, the listed better move was e5, so your central counterplay is the key theme to remember.
How many games feature the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Queen's Gambit Accepted: Central Variation, Alekhine System position. White wins 55.1%, Black wins 41.2%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.