B02 Alekhine Defense Two Pawns Attack


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On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you can learn the Two Pawns' Attack variation of the Alekhine Defense chess opening. This variation is also called the Lasker's Attack variation of the Alekhine's. The Alekhine's Defense begins with 1.e4 Nf6. Then the Two Pawns' Attack variation of the Alekhine's Defence runs in this way: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5, via the Main Line 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5. Learn how to correctly play this variation for white and black.

I. Alekhine Defense Two Pawns' (Lasker's) Attack Variation

The Two Pawns Attack variation is not so common in play, but it belongs to the most common variations of the Alekhine's Defense. The Two Pawns Attack (the described variation) and the Four Pawns' Attack cover 10% of all Alekhine's games. It is ECO code B02. You can see the Two Pawns' Attack variation of the Alekhine Defense in the next picture:

2 Pawn Attack variation of Alekhine Defense
Name: Alekhine Defense, Two Pawns' Attack Variation
Another Name: Alekhine Defense, Lasker's Attack Variation
Moves: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5
Runs via the Main Line: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5

• Why it is called the 2 Pawns Attack? Look at the picture above...
ECO (Encyclopedia of Chess Openings) code: B02
ECO code B02 includes: 1.e4 Nf6 (but without 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4)
The ECO Codes of Alekhine Defense Variations

Below you can study proven lines of the Two Pawn Attack variation. They were proved by a chess opening book, by a 3.5-million game database, and by a chess engine (it shows who is better in pawns, calculation depth 25: 0-0.50 position equal; 0.51-1.00 slightly better; 1.01-1.50 better; 1.51++ much better; ? weak move).

II. How to Play the Alekhine Defense Two Pawns' (Lasker's) Attack Variation

1.e4 Nf6 Alekhine Defense

Alekhine Defense
2.e5 Nd5 the Main line

Main line of Alekhine Defense
3.c4 Nb6 4.c5 ...
Two Pawns Attack variation (see below)

Variant 1 of 2

Alekhine Defense, Two Pawns Attack variation

Two Pawns Attack variation of the Alekhine Defense
2 best lines for black and white to continue:
_4... Nd5 5.Nc3 (+0.22) _4... Nd5 5.Bc4 (+0.00)

Line 4... Nd5 5.Nc3 (Variant 1 of 2)

4... Nd5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nxd5 exd5
(if 5... c6, then 6.Bc4 d6 7.Qb3)
(if 5... Nxc3, then 6.dxc3 d6 7.cxd6 exd6 8.Bc4 Be7)

Line 4... Nd5 5.Nc3, 2 Pawns attack, Alekhine Defense

7.d4 d6 8.cxd6 cxd6 9.Nf3 Nc6

Line 4... Nd5 5.Nc3, after 9.Nf3 Nc6, 2 Pawns attack, Alekhine Defense
Best lines to continue (by chess engine):
10.Bd3 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Bd6 12.0-0 0-0 (=Equal, +0.27)
10.a3 dxe5 11.dxe5 Bg4 12.Be2 Bc5 (=Equal, -0.03)

Variant 2 of 2

Alekhine Defense, Two Pawns Attack variation

Two Pawns Attack variation of the Alekhine Defense
_4... Nd5 5.Nc3 (+0.22) _4... Nd5 5.Bc4 (+0.00)

Line 4... Nd5 5.Bc4 (Variant 2 of 2)

4... Nd5 5.Bc4 e6 6.d4 b6
(if 6.Nc3, then 6... Nxc3 7.dxc3 Nc6 8.Bf4 Bxc5 9.Qg4 g6)

Line 4... Nd5 5.Bc4, Two Pawn attack, Alekhine Defense

7.cxb6 axb6 8.Nf3 Ba6

Line 4... Nd5 5.Bc4, Two Pawn attack, Alekhine Defense
Best lines to continue (by chess engine):
9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.0-0 Be7 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 (=Equal, +0.04)
9.Nbd2 Bxc4 10.Nxc4 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 (=Equal, -0.08)

Alekhine Defence PGN File 2019

To the Main Page of Alekhine Defense (Lesson 43)

On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you learned the Two Pawns' Attack variation of the Alekhine Defense chess opening. The ECO code of this variation is B02. It runs via the Main Line (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5) with the moves 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5. The variation is also known as the Lasker's Attack of the Alekhine's Defense. Thank you!