Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alekhine Variation
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4
The Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alekhine Variation is a chess opening classified as ECO B05, reached after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4. It is a line of the Alekhine Defense. Black is to move. 1 named line continues from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 96 times by this move order. White won 53%, 6% were drawn and Black won 41%. The most popular continuation is 5… Nb6 (97% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.64 (Stockfish, depth 33; best line 5… Nb6 6. exd6 cxd6 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3)
- ECO
- B05
- Moves
- 9 plies
- FEN
rn1qkb1r/ppp1pppp/3p4/3nP3/2PP2b1/5N2/PP3PPP/RNBQKB1R b KQkq - 0 5- PGN
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 6 | |
| 1500-1999 | 51 | |
| 2000+ | 39 | |
| All | 96 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 5… Nb6 | 93 (97%) | |
| 5… Nb4 | 3 (3%) |
Master games
54 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 44%, draw 13%, Black 43%). The strongest:
- GM Evgeny E. Vorobiov (2584) – IM Karen H. Grigoryan (2531) 1/2-1/2 · 29th Open · 2013-02-28
- GM Evgeny E. Vorobiov (2590) – IM Pavel S. Dvalishvili (2428) 1-0 · ch-Moscow 2014 · 2014-03-26
- IM Bortnik, N. (2403) – GM Vladimir Sergeev (2448) 1-0 · Nebesna sotnya Mem Blitz · 2015-02-20
- Alexey Tyutyunnikov (2295) – IM Sergey Pavlov (2454) 1-0 · European Rapid 2015 · 2015-12-19
- FM Nikhil Dixit (2335) – IM Arystan Isanzhulov (2402) 1/2-1/2 · Dubai Police Open A 2024 · 2024-05-08
Highest-rated Lichess games
- Abatronic (2512) – KataChessTeach (2475) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 2s
- iKun123 (2445) – Lauris_Laimins (2443) 0-1 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
- ShirtOverHeadYesss (2380) – Ertugal (2491) 0-1 · 2026-09-07 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4
Continuations
- Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Vitolins Attack B05 · 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4 Nb6 6. d5
More Alekhine Defense lines (all)
- Alekhine Defense (1. e4 Nf6) B02
- Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation B02
- Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation, Everglades Variation B02
- Alekhine Defense: Buckley Attack B02
- Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Lasker Simul Gambit B02
- Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Matsukevich Gambit B02
- Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Mikenas Gambit B02
- Alekhine Defense: Kmoch Variation B02
- Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation B02
- Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation, Krejcik Gambit B02
- Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation B02
- Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe B02
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.