Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe position after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ne4. White: pawn on e5, pawn on a2, pawn on b2, pawn on c2, pawn on d2, 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, knight on g1, rook on h1. Black: rook on a8, knight on b8, bishop on c8, queen on d8, king on e8, bishop on f8, rook on h8, pawn on a7, pawn on b7, pawn on c7, pawn on d7, pawn on e7, pawn on f7, pawn on g7, pawn on h7, knight on e4.
Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ne4. It is classified B02 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 Ne4.
Variations continuing from this position
Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ne4. Open any of them to load the position on the board.
The Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe is a chess opening that arises after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ne4. It is classified B02 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: Mokele Mbembe?
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ne4. After these moves it is white to move.
Is the Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe 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: Mokele Mbembe?
Named continuations include Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe, Modern Line, Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe, Vavra Defense. There are 2 named variations reachable from this position in total.