Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...Nf6/2. Nc3/2...d5/3. e5

Alekhine's Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3pP3/8/2N5/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKBNR b
Moves: 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5

Alekhine's Defence

3. e5

From here, black has 2 main choices:

3... Nfd7

3... Nfd7 is completely sound option and generally transposes into the French Defense, Steinitz Variation mainline after 4. f4 e6 5. Nf3 c5 6. d4 Nc6. This is an interesting (and occasionally sharp) position that would be a good idea for black if they want a sharp game, which is likely what was intended when playing the Alekhine. However, there is another way to reach a sharp position, but only if white agrees to it.

3... d4

3... d4 is another sound option, but is quite drawish because of the line 4. exf6 dxc3 5. fxg7 cxd2+ (not 5... cxb2?? 6. gxh8=Q! and bxa1=Q is met with Qxa1, where white is simply ahead a queen) 6. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 7. Bxd2 Bxg7, where a pair of knights and queens have been traded. This position is notoriously drawish, with a 74% draw rate and just a 19% winrate for white. However, white can keep the position interesting with 5. d4!? cxb2 6. fxg7 bxa1=Q 7. gxh8=Q with a very unclear and sharp position with four queens on the board! Yes, four queens - and it's not even move 8.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

'1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5'

	3	4	5	6
French Defense, Steinitz Variation	e5 Nfd7	f4 e6	Nf3 c5	d4 Nc6	=
Exchange Line	d4	exf6 dxc3	fxg7 cxd2+	Qxd2 Qxd2+	=
Four Queens			d4!? cxb2	fxg7 gxh8=Q	∞

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.