The Alekhine Defense

Important variations are animated at the bottom of the page.

This is a rare opening with a high win percentage for black. To this day, I still cannot figure out why this is good. The main line goes like this: 1. e4, Nf6. This is a highly provocative opening. You could choose to advance or protect. 

The Alekhine Defense   A B C D E F G H 8   7 6                 5             4                 3                 2   1

Protecting would give black the upper hand, so it is better to push. 2. e5, Nd5. This seems to have no purpose. You can make a good pawn structure by pushing to threaten. You could also play it safe by moving 3. d4. The line ends quickly with this. The other variation to this is the four pawns attack. Normally this would be good, but black actually has a higher win percentage. The four pawns attack goes like this: 3. c4, Nb6 4. d4, d6 5. f4. This can make a stormline, but chances are that he will not let you.

The Phoenix Attack   A B C D E F G H 8   7 6                 5           4               3                 2     1

Then, there is a personal creation that I call the Phoenix Attack. I like this because it doubles black's pawns and locks them up. This variation goes as so: 2. e5, Nd5 3. c4, Nb6 4. c5, Nd5 5. Bc4. This looks like the diagram on the left. You will notice that the Black knight has only one choice: Nf4.  The other choice is Nb4, but after a3, you must block your undeveloped b knight to save the knight being chased around.  This will be immediately threatened by d4. So this could be good if you plan to hop onto g3 while white has a beautiful pawn center plus a developed piece. The only other thing he can do is protect, in which case you should probably play d4.  Taking is an easy option, but it is normally better to reserve this.  b6 is a common attack, so then you must take the knight (which would block a queenside fianchetto) and then play b4 to re-defend c5. Often times, black panics and has no idea what to do.  It can lead to an isolated pawn for black and not for white in the center if played right.

The Nf4 variation.   A B C D E F G H 8   7 6                 5             4             3               2     1

As I already said, there are three variations.  One is Nb4 which is immediately chased away to block a developing square.  The other is where black doubles his center pawns which is fun to follow up with d4, Nc3, so on.  The third variation is shown to the left.  Most people are inclined to move d4 right away.  This is a mistake.  Nxg2+ would be awful.  so instead, pin the knight.  Qf3 keeps the knight there to defend checkmate.  One of the worst things for black to do is g5 to try to save the knight.  Not only is it easily met by g3, but you harm both kingside pawn structures.  This is much better for white than black because that advanced e pawn can play havoc on the uncastled king.  The Alekhine Defense is rated number 3 overall, but it is too easy to gain an advantage for white.  Plus, there is no way to help the overextended knight.  However, the knight can move to e6, but this blocks just about all center development.  there is no reason to take and double pawns in that case.  It is better to let black fry himself.