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    Chess Openings

    Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line

    1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 · ECO B05

    Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line position after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4. White: pawn on e5, pawn on d4, knight on f3, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on c2, pawn on f2, pawn on g2, pawn on h2, rook on a1, knight on b1, bishop on c1, queen on d1, king on e1, bishop on f1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, knight on b8, queen on d8, king on e8, bishop on f8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on e7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, pawn on d6, knight on d5, bishop on g4.

    Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4. It is classified B05 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The Alekhine Defense attacks the e4 pawn with the knight on move one, deliberately inviting White to chase it with pawns. Black's plan is that the advancing pawn centre will become overextended and can then be attacked at its base.

    Strategic character

    Provocative by design. After 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 White has an imposing centre and Black has spent moves on a single knight — the whole opening rests on whether that centre proves strong or loose.

    Who should play it

    Players who understand hypermodern ideas and want to take opponents out of familiar territory with Black.

    This line is a variation within the Alekhine Defense family. The strategic ideas above describe the family as a whole; this particular line reaches them by the move order 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4.

    Variations continuing from this position

    Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4. Open any of them to load the position on the board.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line?
    The Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4. It is classified B05 in the ECO system. The Alekhine Defense attacks the e4 pawn with the knight on move one, deliberately inviting White to chase it with pawns. Black's plan is that the advancing pawn centre will become overextended and can then be attacked at its base.
    What are the moves of the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line?
    1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4. After these moves it is white to move.
    Is the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line good for beginners?
    Players who understand hypermodern ideas and want to take opponents out of familiar territory with Black.
    What variations come from the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line?
    Named continuations include Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alekhine Variation, Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Panov Variation, Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Flohr Variation, Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Vitolins Attack. There are 4 named variations reachable from this position in total.

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