B03 Alekhine Defense Exchange Variation

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This page is designed for chess beginners and intermediate chess players to learn (in real) the Exchange variation of the Alekhine Defense chess opening. The Alekhine Defense chess opening begins with 1.e4 Nf6, and its Exchange variation runs in the following way: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6.

The Exchange variation runs via the Main Line (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5)... Learn here how to correctly play the Exchange variation for White and Black, move by move!

I. Alekhine Defense Exchange Variation

The Exchange variation is very popular within the Alekhine Defense chess opening. For example, in 2019 at the chess master level, the variation has covered 25-30% of all Alekhine's games. The Exchange variation is ECO code B03. You can see the Exchange variation of the Alekhine Defense in the following picture:


Name: Alekhine Defense, Exchange Variation
Moves: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6
Runs: via the Main Line 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5
ECO Code: B03

Note. B03 starts with the moves 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4
• See the List of All Variations of the Alekhine Defense

Below you can learn proven lines for the Exchange 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. Proven Lines to Play Alekhine Defense Exchange Variation

1.e4 Nf6
Alekhine Defense


2.e5 Nd5
The Main Line


3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 ...
Exchange Variation

• Variant 1 of 2

Alekhine Defense Exchange Variation


_5... cxd6 (60%) _5... exd6 (40%)
_5... cxd6 (+0.02) _5... exd6 (+0.23)

• Line 5... cxd6 6.Nf3 (Variant 1 of 2)

5... cxd6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.Be3 Nc6


Best lines to continue (by chess engine):
10.Nc3 Bg4 11.b3 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 (=Equal, +0.30)
10.Nbd2 e5 11.d5 Nb4 12.Ne4 f5 (=Equal, +0.12)

• Variant 2 of 2

Alekhine Defense Exchange Variation


_5... cxd6 (60%) _5... exd6 (40%)
_5... cxd6 (+0.02) _5... exd6 (+0.23)

• Line 5... exd6 6.Nc3 (Variant 2 of 2)

5... exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.h3 O-O 8.Nf3 Bf5 9.Be2 Re8



Best lines to continue (by chess engine):
10.0-0 Bf6 11.Be3 Nc6 12.Rc1 h6 (W slightly better, +0.56)
10.Bf4 Bf6 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Rc1 a6 (=Equal, +0.48)

Note. More proven lines on the Exchange variation will be added.

• Return to the Main Page of the Alekhine Defense (43)

On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have learned the Exchange variation of the Alekhine Defense. The ECO code of the Exchange is B03. It runs via the Main Line with 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6. The Exchange is very popular among the Alekhine Defense chess games...

B02 Alekhine's Defense Scandinavian Variation

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This page is designed for chess beginners and intermediate chess players to learn the Scandinavian variation of the Alekhine Defense. The Alekhine's Defense chess opening starts as 1.e4 Nf6, and its Scandinavian variation runs 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5. Learn how to correctly play the Scandinavian variation of the Alekhine Defense for White and Black, move by move -- with proven data!

• How to Estimate Who is Better at the End of Chess Opening Phase and How to Make a Plan for Middlegame (read Paras C and D)

I. Alekhine Defense Scandinavian Variation

The Scandinavian variation is not the main line of the Alekhine Defense, but it covers approximately 15% of the Alekhine Defense games. The Scandinavian variation is ECO code B02, and the variation runs (as you remember) 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5. You can see the Alekhine Defense Scandinavian variation in the following picture (see the picture and read the data):


Name: Alekhine Defense, Scandinavian Variation
Moves: 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5
ECO code (Encyclopedia of Chess Openings): B02

Note. B02 starts with 1.e4 Nf6
• All Variations of the Alekhine Defense by ECO Codes

Study the proven lines of the Scandinavian variation of the Alekhine's Defense below. The lines were proved by an opening book, by a 3.5-million game database, and by a chess engine (it shows who is better in pawns (in our case, calculation depth 25): 0-0.50 position equal; 0.51-1.00 slightly better; 1.01-1.50 better; 1.51++ much better; + for White; - for Black; ? weak move). For example: +1.27 means that the position of White is better as if White won 1.27 pawns by material.

II. Proven Lines to Play Alekhine Defense Scandinavian Variation

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5

• Variant 1 of 4

Alekhine Defense Scandinavian Variation


[3.exd5 (+0.00) Nxd5 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bb3 Nc6]
[3.exd5 (-0.10) Nxd5 4.Nxd5 Qxd5 5.d4 e5]
[3.Nxd5 (-0.11) Nxd5 4.exd5 Qxd5]
3.e5 ...
_3... Nfd7 (+0.25) _3... d4 (+0.46) _3... Ne4 (+0.57)

• Line 3... Nfd7 4.f4 (Variant 1 of 4)

3... Nfd7 4.f4 e6 5.Nf3 c5


Best lines to continue (by chess engine):
6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 (=Equal, +0.23)
6.d4 Nc6 7.Ne2 b5 8.a3 a5 (=Equal, +0.15)

• Variant 2 of 4

Alekhine Defense Scandinavian Variation


3.e5 ...
_3... Nfd7 (+0.25) _3... d4 (+0.46) _3... Ne4 (+0.57)

• Line 3... Nfd7 4.d4 (Variant 2 of 4)

3... Nfd7 4.d4 e6 5.Nce2 c5 6.c3 Nc6


Best lines to continue (by chess engine):
7.f4 Be7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Be3 f6 (=Equal, +0.36)
7.Nf3 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.g3 b5 (=Equal, +0.15)

• Variant 3 of 4

Alekhine Defense Scandinavian Variation


3.e5 ...
_3... Nfd7 (+0.25) _3... d4 (+0.46) _3... Ne4 (+0.57)

• Line 3... d4 (Variant 3 of 4)

3... d4 4.exf6 dxc3 5.fxg7 cxd2+ 6.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 7.Bxd2 Bxg7


Best lines to continue (by chess engine):
8.0-0-0 Be6 9.Ne2 Nc6 (9... Bxa2? 10.b3! (+2.15)) 10.Bc3 Rg8 (=Equal, +0.36)
8.c3 Nc6 9.Be3 Ne5 10.Be2 Be6 (=Equal, +0.28)

• Variant 4 of 4

Alekhine Defense Scandinavian Variation


3.e5 ...
_3... Nfd7 (+0.25) _3... d4 (+0.46) _3... Ne4 (+0.57)

• Line 3... Ne4 (Variant 4 of 4)

3... Ne4 4.Nce2 d4 5.d3 Nc5


Best lines to continue (by chess engine):
6.f4 g6 7.Nf3 Ne6 8.c3 c5 (W slightly better, +0.62)
6.a3 Ne6 7.f4 c5 8.Nf3 g6 (W slightly better, +0.52)

• Return to the Main Page of the Alekhine Defense (43)

On this page of chess-openings-for-beginners.blogspot.com you have learned the Scandinavian Variation of the Alekhine Defense chess opening. The ECO code of this variation is B02. The Scandinavian Variation of the Alekhine Defense runs 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5. Thank you very much for your attention and learning chess openings!