The Active Alekhine Repertoire

The first chapter gives a few counterattacking landmarks before the deeper branches. Against Nc3, the immediate d5 challenge can lead to an unusual doubled-pawn structure, while early central exchanges produce very different positions. We use useful knight squares and active pawn breaks rather than try to preserve a single setup. Material may change temporarily during the tactics, so the exact board matters more than a familiar opening label.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 Nfd7 4.e6 fxe6 5.d4 c5 6.dxc5 g6 7.h4 Bg7 8.h5 Nc6 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.Rxh8+ Bxh8 11.Bd3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qa5 13.Bxg6+ Kd8FreeLearn
2. Line 2… 1…Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nc3 Nxc3 4.dxc3 d6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 a6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.O-O Qd7 9.Re1 e6 10.Bf4 f6 11.exf6 gxf6Premium
3. Line 3… 2…Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bb3 dxe5 6.Qh5 e6 7.dxe5 a5 8.a4 Na6 9.c3 Nc5 10.Bc2 Nd3+Premium
4. Line 4… 3…d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Bf5 7.Be3 e6 8.Nc3 Bb4 9.Nf3 c5 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Nc6Premium
5. Line 5… 4…Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nf3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Nc3 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.O-O Bf5 11.Be3 d5 12.c5 Nc4 13.Bxc4 dxc4Premium

White’s second move can avoid the main pawn chase entirely. An early Bc4 permits a concrete capture and king walk, while d3 leads to a restrained structure with queenside play. Against Nc3 we challenge the centre with d5 and adapt to exchanges or advances. The recurring habit is to use development and central contact together, keeping the king’s safety in view even when White’s early moves look unusual.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.Bc4 Nxe4 3.Bxf7+ Kxf7 4.Qh5+ Kg8 5.Qd5+ e6 6.Qxe4 d5 7.Qe2 Nc6Premium
2. Line 2… 1…Nf6 2.d3 c5 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Be2 Bg7 6.O-O O-O 7.c3 d6 8.Qe1 b5 9.Qh4 e6Premium
3. Line 3… 1…Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Bc4 e6 5.Nf3 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.d4 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Nd7Premium
4. Line 4… 2…d5 3.e5 Nfd7 4.f4 d4 5.Ne4 f5 6.Ng5 Nb6 7.e6 Qd5Premium
5. Line 5… 3…Nfd7 4.d4 c5 5.f4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 e6 7.Nf3 Bc5 8.Qd1 Nc6 9.Bd3 a6 10.Qe2 b5 11.Bd2 Bb6 12.O-O-O Nc5Premium
6. Line 6… 5…cxd4 6.Nb5 Nc6 7.Nf3 Nc5 8.Nbxd4 Bg4 9.Be3 e6 10.c3 Be7 11.Be2 O-OPremium

White has alternatives to the main third-move pawn advances. A bishop on c4 gives the knight a retreat with tempo, an early queen can become a target, and Nc3 invites a structural exchange. The choice between bxc3 and dxc3 matters: one preserves a broad central pawn chain, while the other speeds bishop development. We follow those structural differences and choose pawn breaks that give our remaining pieces useful activity.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Bc4 Nb6 4.Bb3 d5 5.exd6 Qxd6 6.d4 a5 7.a4 Be6Premium
2. Line 2… 4…d5 5.d4 Bf5 6.c3 e6 7.Ne2 c5 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.O-O Nc6 10.f4 Be7 11.f5 exf5 12.Nxf5 O-OPremium
3. Line 3… 2…Nd5 3.Qf3 e6 4.Nc3 Nb4 5.Qd1 d6 6.a3 Nd5 7.Nf3 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Nd7Premium
4. Line 4… 2…Nd5 3.Nc3 Nxc3 4.bxc3 e6 5.d4 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.Be2 Nc6 8.O-O c4 9.a4 Qa5 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.Ba3 Bxa3 12.Rxa3 O-O-OPremium
5. Line 5… 3…Nxc3 4.dxc3 d6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bf4 dxe5 7.Qxd8+ Nxd8 8.Bxe5 c6Premium
6. Line 6… 5…Nc6 6.exd6 Qxd6 7.Bd3 g6 8.Be3 Bf5 9.Bxf5 Qxd1+ 10.Rxd1 gxf5Premium

The Chase Variation uses c4 and c5 to gain space while repeatedly attacking the knight. We find squares behind those pawns and challenge their support with e6, d6 or b6. Early bishop and queen moves create tactical details that change the order of development. The goal is active central play with a clear king plan, accepting that some sharp lines temporarily sacrifice material for concrete queenside threats.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.b3 d6 5.exd6 Qxd6 6.d4 Nc6 7.c5 Qxd4 8.Qxd4 Nxd4 9.cxb6 axb6Premium
2. Line 2… 3…Nb6 4.a4 a5 5.Ra3 e6 6.Rg3 Nc6 7.d4 d6 8.exd6 Bxd6Premium
3. Line 3… 3…Nb6 4.c5 Nd5 5.Bc4 e6 6.d4 b6 7.cxb6 axb6Premium
4. Line 4… 4…Nd5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bc4 Nxc3 7.dxc3 Nc6 8.Bf4 Bxc5 9.Qg4 g5 10.Bxg5 Rg8Premium
5. Line 5… 5…e6 6.d4 d6 7.cxd6 cxd6 8.f4 dxe5 9.fxe5 Bb4 10.Qd3 Bd7 11.a3 Be7 12.Nf3 Bc6Premium
6. Line 6… 7…cxd6 8.Nf3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Qc7 10.Bd2 Nd7 11.Bd3 dxe5 12.O-O Bd6 13.Re1 O-O 14.Qe2 exd4 15.Qe4 g6 16.cxd4 Nf6 17.Qh4 Nd5Premium
7. Line 7… 5…e6 6.Nxd5 exd5 7.d4 d6 8.cxd6 cxd6 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.Bd3 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Bd6 12.O-O O-OPremium
8. Line 8… 10…dxe5 11.dxe5 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 O-OPremium

The Four Pawns centre can be handled differently when White develops the queen or bishops before Nc3. We use central pawn breaks and active minor pieces to question d4 and e5. A queen raid on b7 permits direct checks, while quieter development requires more patient coordination. Some lines lead to queenless positions with active knights against an uncastled king, so each recapture and king route must be calculated carefully.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Bf5 7.Qf3 e6 8.Qxb7 Qh4+Premium
2. Line 2… 6…Bf5 7.Be3 e6 8.Nf3 c5 9.Nc3 Nc6 10.d5 Nb4Premium
3. Line 3… 6…Bf5 7.Nf3 e6 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 c5 10.d5 exd5 11.Nc3 dxc4 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.Ng5 Rg8 14.Nxf7+ Kd7Premium

White’s Four Pawns formation asks our pieces to work against a large but demanding centre. We develop the bishops, castle, and challenge e5 with f6 before choosing the right knight squares. The branches here show why c5 often gives us d5, how e5 creates a d4 outpost, and when rook pressure makes a tactical capture possible. Always follow exchanges to their endpoint before judging material.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Bf5 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nf3 Be7 9.Bd3 Bg4 10.O-O Nc6 11.c5 Nd5Premium
2. Line 2… 8…Be7 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O f6 11.Be3 Nc6 12.d5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 fxe5 14.g4 Bg6 15.dxe6 Rxf1+ 16.Qxf1 Bg5Premium
3. Line 3… 10…f6 11.exf6 Bxf6 12.Be3 Nc6 13.d5 Na5 14.Bxb6 axb6 15.Nd4 Qe7Premium
4. Line 4… 12…Nc6 13.b3 Qe8 14.Bd3 Rd8 15.Bxf5 exf5 16.Qd2 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 c5Premium
5. Line 5… 13…Qe8 14.Qe1 e5 15.d5 Nd4Premium
6. Line 6… 12…Nc6 13.Qd2 Qe7 14.c5 Nd5 15.Bf2 Rad8 16.Rae1 Bg4 17.a3 Qd7Premium
7. Line 7… 13…Qe7 14.Rad1 Rad8 15.Qc1 e5 16.d5 Nd4 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Bxd4 Bg5 19.Qa1 c5 20.Bf2 Bc2 21.Rde1 Rxf2 22.Rxf2 Be3Premium
8. Line 8… 14…Rad8 15.Qe1 Nb4 16.Qg3 Nc2 17.Bf2 Qb4Premium
9. Line 9… 14…Rad8 15.b3 Nb4 16.a3 Nc2 17.Bf2 Qxa3Premium
10. Line 10… 14…Rad8 15.h3 Bg6 16.c5 Nd5 17.Bf2 Ndb4Premium
11. Line 11… 14…Rad8 15.Kh1 h6 16.h3 Bh7 17.c5 Nd5 18.Bg1 Nxc3 19.bxc3 e5 20.d5 e4 21.Nh2 Ne5Premium
12. Line 12… 16…Bh7 17.Qc1 Kh8 18.Bg1 a6 19.b3 Nc8 20.c5 b5Premium

The Exchange Variation removes White’s advanced e-pawn and gives us a more conventional development task. We recapture with the c-pawn, retain a central pawn on d6, and often fianchetto the king’s bishop. White can challenge the d5-knight immediately or develop first, changing our available routes. The main practical question is when to advance d5 or e5 so that the pawn break works with our pieces.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.exd6 cxd6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.Nc3 d5Premium
2. Line 2… 4…cxd6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.h3 e5 9.c4 Nf4Premium
3. Line 3… 7…O-O 8.Re1 Nc7Premium
4. Line 4… 3…d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Bf4 O-O 8.Be2 Nc6 9.exd6 cxd6 10.h3 e5 11.Bg5 Qe8 12.Nb5 e4 13.Nh2 Qd7Premium
5. Line 5… 9…cxd6 10.O-O Bg4 11.b3 d5 12.c5 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Bxd4Premium

White’s Nc3 setups give the centre direct piece support and leave several different attacking plans available. We meet h4 with a fixed kingside structure, use knight exchanges to reduce an active Bd3, and keep an eye on advanced queenside pawns. Some lines leave us the bishop pair; others leave two knights against two bishops. Those differences should guide the next phase more than the opening’s name.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.h4 h5 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.Be2 Bg7 10.Bg5 Nc6 11.O-O O-O 12.Re1 Re8Premium
2. Line 2… 7…h5 8.Bd3 Bg7 9.Nge2 Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.b3 Nxd3+ 12.Qxd3 Nd7Premium
3. Line 3… 6…g6 7.a4 Bg7 8.a5 N6d7 9.Nf3 O-O 10.Be2 Nc6 11.O-O Nxa5 12.d5 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Nc5Premium
4. Line 4… 10…Nc6 11.d5 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Nxa5 13.Bh6 Re8 14.h4 Nf6 15.h5 b6 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.Ng5 Qc7 18.Rh4 e5Premium
5. Line 5… 6…g6 7.Bd3 Bg7 8.Nge2 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.h3 e5Premium
6. Line 6… 6…g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 O-O 9.b3 e5 10.d5 f5 11.f3 Na6Premium
7. Line 7… 9…e5 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.Be2 Bg4 12.d5 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nd4Premium
8. Line 8… 11…Bg4 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.O-O h6 14.c5 Nd7 15.Ne4 Nf6 16.Nd6 Qe7Premium
9. Line 9… 9…e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Qxd8 Rxd8 12.c5 N6d7 13.Bc4 Nc6 14.Nf3 h6 15.O-O Nf8 16.Rfd1 Be6Premium

When White develops Nf3, the bishop pin on g4 becomes an important way to challenge the support of d4. We combine it with Nc6 and a timely d5 break, then adjust to White’s pawn advances. The resulting positions include central knight outposts, queenless play, and doubled kingside pawns. Follow the actual pawn routes carefully: a pawn that began on c7 can eventually become our only pawn on c4.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Nc3 O-O 9.Be2 d5 10.c5 Nc4 11.Bxc4 dxc4Premium
2. Line 2… 6…g6 7.Bd3 Bg7 8.O-O Bg4 9.Be3 Nc6Premium
3. Line 3… 7…Bg7 8.h3 Nc6 9.d5 Nb4 10.Be2 Bd7 11.O-O O-O 12.Nc3 Qc7 13.Qb3 Na6Premium
4. Line 4… 6…g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.Nc3 Bg4 10.Be3 Nc6 11.b3 d5 12.c5 Nc8 13.b4 a6Premium
5. Line 5… 6…g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Nc3 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.O-O Bf5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 g5 13.Bg3 e5Premium
6. Line 6… 10…Bf5 11.Re1 Rc8 12.g4 Bd7 13.c5 dxc5 14.dxc5 Na8 15.Be3 Nc7Premium
7. Line 7… 11…Rc8 12.Bf1 e5 13.Bg5 Qd7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.c5 Qxd1 16.Raxd1 Nd7Premium
8. Line 8… 10…Bf5 11.d5 Na5 12.Nd4 Naxc4 13.a4 a5 14.Nxf5 gxf5Premium
9. Line 9… 12…Naxc4 13.Nxf5 gxf5Premium

White can support the early d4 centre with a fianchetto, an f-pawn advance, or natural knight development. We respond to the actual structure rather than use one plan mechanically. Queen exchanges change the importance of castling rights, while c5 can gain useful activity against a pawn-heavy setup. The key is to connect our knight routes and bishop development to the pawn squares White has just left behind.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.g3 dxe5 5.dxe5 Nb4 6.Qxd8+ Kxd8 7.Na3 Bf5 8.c3 Nd3+ 9.Bxd3 Bxd3Premium
2. Line 2… 5…Nb4 6.Bg2 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 N4c6 8.Nf3 g6 9.Re1 Bg7 10.Nc3 O-OPremium
3. Line 3… 3…d6 4.f4 dxe5 5.fxe5 c5 6.c4 Nb4 7.d5 Bf5 8.Na3 e6Premium
4. Line 4… 5…c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Nf3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bg4Premium
5. Line 5… 5…c5 6.Nf3 cxd4 7.Qxd4 Nc6 8.Bb5 Bf5 9.Nc3 e6Premium
6. Line 6… 4…dxe5 5.dxe5 Bf5 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.a3 Be7Premium

An early bishop on c4 brings pressure toward f7 but also gives our knights a useful target after Nb6. White can exchange centrally, move the queen early, or push queenside pawns to save the bishop. We answer with active development and carefully timed central exchanges. Keep track of which bishops survive: several similar-looking branches lead to distinctly different minor-piece balances, and those differences shape the next plan.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bb3 dxe5 6.dxe5 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 a5 8.a4 Bf5 9.Be3 e6Premium
2. Line 2… 5…dxe5 6.Qf3 e6 7.dxe5 a5 8.a4 Nc6 9.Qg3 Nd4 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.Nf3 Nxb3 12.cxb3 Bc6 13.O-O Qd3Premium
3. Line 3… 5…dxe5 6.Qh5 e6 7.dxe5 a5 8.c3 Qd3Premium
4. Line 4… 7…a5 8.a3 Nc6 9.Nf3 a4 10.Ba2 Nd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4Premium
5. Line 5… 7…a5 8.a4 Na6 9.Nf3 Nc5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.O-O Nxb3 12.cxb3 Bxg5 13.Nxg5 Qe7 14.Nc3 Bd7Premium
6. Line 6… 9…Nc5 10.O-O Nxb3 11.cxb3 Qd3 12.Nc3 Bd7 13.Rd1 Qg6 14.Qxg6 hxg6Premium

The Modern Variation gives White natural development without immediately chasing our central knight with c4. We fianchetto and castle, then challenge the advanced e5-pawn through central exchanges and useful knight routes. White’s bishop can become a target on b3, while early queen moves create sharper possibilities. Some forcing lines change the material balance dramatically; judge them from the final position, with every recapture and undeveloped piece included.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Be2 Bg7 6.O-O O-O 7.c3 dxe5 8.dxe5 c6 9.Re1 Bf5Premium
2. Line 2… 4…g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Bf4 Nc6 8.O-O dxe5 9.dxe5 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 a5Premium
3. Line 3… 6…Bg7 7.Nbd2 a5 8.a4 dxe5 9.dxe5 Na6 10.O-O Nc5 11.Qe2 O-OPremium
4. Line 4… 6…Bg7 7.exd6 cxd6 8.O-O O-O 9.h3 Nc6 10.Re1 Na5 11.Bg5 Re8Premium
5. Line 5… 6…Bg7 7.a4 dxe5 8.a5 N6d7 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Ng5+ Kg8 11.Ne6 Qe8 12.Nxc7 Qd8 13.Nxa8 exd4 14.O-O Nc6Premium
6. Line 6… 6…Bg7 7.Qe2 O-O 8.e6 d5 9.exf7+ Rxf7 10.Ne5 Bxe5 11.dxe5 c5 12.c3 Nc6 13.O-O Bf5 14.Re1 c4Premium
7. Line 7… 7…O-O 8.h3 a5 9.a4 Na6 10.O-O dxe5 11.dxe5 Nc5 12.Rd1 Qe8Premium
8. Line 8… 6…Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Re1 Nc6 9.e6 fxe6 10.c3 Kh8 11.Ng5 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.f4 Bg4 14.Qd2 Nec4Premium
9. Line 9… 7…O-O 8.h3 dxe5 9.Nxe5 a5 10.a4 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.c3 e5 13.dxe5 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Bxe5Premium

White’s knight jump to g5 increases pressure toward f7 and makes the Modern Variation much sharper. We use e6 to block the bishop’s diagonal, then calculate central exchanges, queen checks, and king moves precisely. Castling is sometimes delayed or lost, so general development rules cannot replace concrete calculation. The final positions often contain temporary material imbalances or a pending recapture, which the endpoint notes explain from Black’s perspective.

1. Line 11.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Ng5 e6 8.f4 dxe5 9.fxe5 O-O 10.O-O c5 11.c3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.Nf3 f6 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Be3 Nd5 16.Bf2 Nf4Premium
2. Line 2… 7…e6 8.Qf3 Qe7 9.Ne4 dxe5 10.dxe5 h6 11.Nf6+ Kf8 12.Qc3 Nd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.f4 Be6 15.Be3 Kg8 16.O-O c6 17.Nd2 Nd7 18.Nf3 Kh7Premium
3. Line 3… 12…Nd5 13.Bxd5 exd5 14.Be3 Na6 15.O-O c5 16.Nxd5 Qxe5 17.Bxc5+ Nxc5 18.Qxc5+ Kg8Premium
4. Line 4… 9…dxe5 10.Bg5 Qb4+ 11.Nbd2 exd4 12.a3 Qa5 13.Bf6 O-O 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qf6+ Kg8 16.Qxd4 N8d7 17.O-O-O Qe5Premium
5. Line 5… 10…Qb4+ 11.c3 Qa5 12.Nf6+ Kf8 13.d5 e4 14.Qg3 Na6 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Bxe6 h6 17.Bh4 g5Premium
6. Line 6… 11…Qa5 12.Bf6 Bxf6 13.Qxf6 O-O 14.Qxe5 Qxe5 15.dxe5 a5Premium
7. Line 7… 12…Bxf6 13.Nxf6+ Kf8 14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5 f5 17.Bxb7 e4 18.Qd1 Bxb7 19.Qd8+ Kg7Premium
8. Line 8… 11…Qa5 12.d5 O-O 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Qg4 Rf5Premium
9. Line 9… 11…Qa5 12.dxe5 Nc6 13.Nbd2 Nxe5 14.Qg3 f5 15.O-O-O O-O 16.f4 fxe4 17.fxe5 Qxe5 18.Qh4 a5 19.a4 Bd7Premium