Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...Nf6/2. e5/2...Nd5/3. d4/3...d6/4. c4/4...Nb6

Alekhine's defence B02 Alekhine's defence → 3. d4 → 4. c4 → 4...Nb6 Alekhine's defence → Two pawns attack → 4. d4 → 4...d6 4...Nb6 Black threatens 5...dxe5 6.dxe5 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1, shattering White's pawns and preventing castling. This is a common position in Alekhine's defence that may arise from the 3. d4 or 2. c4 move orders by transposition. White has two main choices. 5. f4, the four pawns attack, is the maximalist approach. White wishes to recapture on e5 with the pawn (5...dxe5 6. fxe5) and keep their smothering pawn chain alive. 5...dxe5 is the main move, or Black can start with 5...Bf5, the Trifunovic variation (...dxe5 fxe5 normally follows later). Uncommon moves include 5...g6, the fianchetto variation and 5...g5, the Cambridge gambit. 5. exd6, the exchange variation, is a direct alternative. White doesn't wish to give Black more tempi to get ahead in development, so initiates the trade themselves. 5...cxd6 and 5...exd6 are about equally common. In the former, Black usually must employ a king's side fianchetto. In the latter, they may play ...Be7 instead. 5. Nf3 intending 5...dxe5 6. Nxe5 is also playable. 5. c5?, the Hunt variation, is bad. Theory table 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5 Four Pawns Attack f4 - = Exchange Variation exd6 - = Modern Variation Nf3 - = References Alekhine Defence