Paleface Attack
1. d4 Nf6 2. f3
The Paleface Attack is a chess opening classified as ECO A45, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. f3. Black is to move. 3 named lines continue from this position.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 5,693 times by this move order. White won 49%, 3% were drawn and Black won 48%. The most popular continuation is 2… d5 (39% of games).
Engine evaluation: −0.46 (Stockfish, depth 50; best line 2… d5 3. Nc3 c5 4. e4 Nc6 5. exd5)
- ECO
- A45
- Moves
- 3 plies
- FEN
rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/5n2/8/3P4/5P2/PPP1P1PP/RNBQKBNR b KQkq - 0 2- PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. f3
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 0-1499 | 2,222 | |
| 1500-1999 | 2,676 | |
| 2000+ | 795 | |
| All | 5,693 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 2… d5 | 2,209 (39%) | |
| 2… g6 | 1,491 (26%) | |
| 2… e6 | 898 (16%) | |
| 2… d6 | 377 (7%) | |
| 2… c5 | 288 (5%) | |
| 2… Nc6 | 187 (3%) | |
| 2… c6 | 72 (1%) | |
| 2… b6 | 56 (1%) |
Master games
262 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 47%, draw 7%, Black 46%). The strongest:
- GM Alireza Firouzja (2737) – IM Jakub Kosakowski (2480) 1-0 · Titled Tue 11th Jun Late · 2024-06-11
- IM Shamil Arslanov (2410) – GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2743) 0-1 · Titled Tue 7th Jul 2026 · 2026-07-07
- IM Shamil Arslanov (2410) – GM Dmitry Andreikin (2729) 0-1 · Titled Tue 30th Jan Early · 2024-01-30
- IM Shamil Arslanov (2410) – GM Sanan Sjugirov (2695) 0-1 · Titled Tue 9th Jan Early · 2024-01-09
- IM Shamil Arslanov (2410) – GM Nikolas Theodorou (2656) 1-0 · Titled Tue 11th Nov 2025 · 2025-11-11
Search all games of the Paleface Attack and its sub-variations
Highest-rated Lichess games
- GolfeDuMorbihan (2683) – GM ILikeBlitz (2832) 1-0 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- Schmargendorf (2654) – IM shuriks91 (2801) 0-1 · 2026-09-04 · 180 + 0s
- GolfeDuMorbihan (2704) – Kruciatos (2738) 0-1 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 0s
Comes from
Indian Defense (1. d4 Nf6) 1. d4 Nf6
Continuations
- Indian Defense: Gedult Attack A45 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. g4
- Indian Defense: Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit Deferred A45 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. e4
- Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov, Richter Attack A45 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. Nc3
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.