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Alekhine Defense

54 variations · 20M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

Alekhine Defense is balanced for Black at 49.0% expected score.

This opening produces roughly even results, with outcomes depending more on middlegame play than opening choice.

You play
Playable
Rating
Time
Black Expected Score49.0%Aggregated from 54 variationsWin + ½×draw — predicts rating gain better than win rate
45%49.0%55%
Tight estimate: 49.0% (±0.1%, huge sample)
Min adv-2.1%
ContextOverall · n=20M
Outcome Distribution
4.c4
Alekhine Defense
Variations54
Games (Context)20M
Avg Length34 moves
Draw Rate3.9%

Games (Context) — games matching the current filter

What Should I Play?

Player-controlled continuations for Black · Overall

#1Alekhine Defense: O'Sullivan GambitTop Pick
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 b5
Min adv +10.0% · n=109K
55.3%
#2Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Fianchetto Variation
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 g6
Min adv +4.9% · n=161K
52.7%
#3Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 c6
Min adv +1.2% · n=936K
50.7%
#4Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Trifunovic Variation
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 Bf5
Min adv +1.1% · n=96K
50.9%
#5Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Cambridge Gambit
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 g5
Min adv +0.9% · n=17K
51.1%
#6Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation
1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5
Min adv +0.8% · n=2.9M
50.5%
#7Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Schmid Variation
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Nb6
Min adv -0.3% · n=231K
50.1%
#8Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Flohr Variation
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 c6
Min adv -1.7% · n=16K
49.8%
#9Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 Bf5 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nf3 Be7 9.Be2 O-O 10.O-O f6
Min adv -1.7% · n=399
53.3%
#10Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alburt Variation
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6
Min adv -1.9% · n=142K
49.3%

Continuations show the most common variations from this opening. Higher expected scores indicate better statistical outcomes, but familiarity and playstyle matter too.

What is the Alekhine Defense expected score for Black?

Snapshot

Overall, the Alekhine Defense family has a 49.0% expected score for Black (we're 90% confident it's between 49.0% and 49.0%), aggregated from 54 variations and 20M Lichess games.

Black Win% by Rating

Declines with rating: 46% → 42%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 46.2% win rate (1,376,789 games)
  • 1000-1199: 45.3% win rate (1,265,103 games)
  • 1200-1399: 46.8% win rate (1,659,057 games)
  • 1400-1599: 47.6% win rate (2,342,496 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.2% win rate (3,191,557 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.2% win rate (4,079,453 games)
  • 2000-2199: 47.1% win rate (3,483,177 games)
  • 2200-2499: 44.8% win rate (2,054,181 games)
  • 2500+: 41.9% win rate (403,188 games)

Black Win% by Time Control

Best in UltraBullet (50%), worst in Classical (43%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 50.0% win rate (225,267 games)
  • Bullet: 47.4% win rate (8,898,429 games)
  • Blitz: 47.0% win rate (8,556,487 games)
  • Rapid: 45.0% win rate (2,077,694 games)
  • Classical: 42.7% win rate (97,124 games)

Rating vs Time Control Matrix

Click cells to filter · Black expected scores

Black% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter — click it again to clear. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 59.7% expected score (2,066 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 50.4% expected score (258,102 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (663,597 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 47.7% expected score (448,371 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 48.3% expected score (4,653 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 56.0% expected score (7,423 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (367,739 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 46.8% expected score (577,819 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 44.8% expected score (299,500 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 43.0% expected score (12,622 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 54.7% expected score (28,070 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (614,984 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 48.0% expected score (741,076 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 45.2% expected score (255,975 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 42.9% expected score (18,952 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 55.1% expected score (55,628 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.7% expected score (970,417 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (1,032,005 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 46.8% expected score (262,751 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 42.9% expected score (21,695 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.7% expected score (65,049 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (1,389,345 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.2% expected score (1,431,231 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 49.1% expected score (286,470 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 48.5% expected score (19,462 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.9% expected score (47,399 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 49.4% expected score (1,801,720 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.0% expected score (1,920,822 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.6% expected score (294,841 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 49.7% expected score (14,671 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 40.9% expected score (15,827 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 48.9% expected score (1,770,923 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (1,516,761 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (175,439 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 46.7% expected score (4,227 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 42.4% expected score (3,473 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 47.6% expected score (1,373,334 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 47.2% expected score (623,843 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 46.4% expected score (52,756 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 36.5% expected score (775 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 39.8% expected score (332 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 45.5% expected score (351,865 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (49,333 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 36.9% expected score (1,591 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 36.2% expected score (67 games)

Matrix view reveals how performance varies across rating brackets and time controls. Green indicates favorable, red indicates challenging contexts.

Variations (54)

Ranked by Min adv — the worst-case edge over 50% we're 90% confident you keep.

1
Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation38K games
56.4%min +12.0%
2
Alekhine Defense: O'Sullivan Gambit109K games
55.3%min +10.0%
3
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack466K games
53.3%min +6.4%
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Fianchetto Variation161K games
52.7%min +4.9%
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Main Line134K games
52.2%min +3.9%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alekhine Variation16K games
51.9%min +2.5%
Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation569K games
51.3%min +2.2%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alekhine Gambit38K games
51.6%min +2.2%
Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Geschev Gambit936K games
50.7%min +1.2%
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Trifunovic Variation96K games
50.9%min +1.1%
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Cambridge Gambit17K games
51.1%min +0.9%
Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation2.9M games
50.5%min +0.8%
Alekhine Defense: Steiner Variation43K games
50.7%min +0.5%
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation1.2M games
50.3%min +0.4%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Schmid Variation231K games
50.1%min -0.3%
Alekhine Defense: Balogh Variation155K games
49.7%min -1.1%
Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack906K games
49.3%min -1.7%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Flohr Variation16K games
49.8%min -1.7%
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation399 games
53.3%min -1.7%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alburt Variation142K games
49.3%min -1.9%
Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Tate Variation193K games
49.2%min -2.0%
Alekhine Defense: Maróczy Variation1.9M games
49.0%min -2.1%
Alekhine Defense: Welling Variation12K games
49.7%min -2.2%
Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Mikenas Variation3.4K games
50.3%min -2.2%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen-Haakert Variation131K games
49.1%min -2.4%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Panov Variation24K games
49.3%min -2.7%
Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation1.4M games
48.4%min -3.4%
Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe, Vavra Defense126K games
48.5%min -3.4%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line188K games
48.4%min -3.6%
Alekhine Defense: Kmoch Variation13K games
48.8%min -3.9%
Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Lasker Variation495K games
47.8%min -4.8%
Alekhine Defense5.1M games
47.5%min -5.1%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen Variation177K games
47.7%min -5.1%
Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation, Krejcik Gambit81K games
47.7%min -5.3%
Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation625K games
47.4%min -5.4%
Alekhine Defense: Mar��czy Variation230 games
52.6%min -5.6%
Alekhine Defense: Scandinavian Variation, Myers Gambit35K games
47.3%min -6.4%
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation696 games
49.5%min -7.2%
Alekhine Defense: Sämisch Attack424K games
46.5%min -7.3%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation50K games
46.8%min -7.3%
Alekhine Defense: Buckley Attack1.6K games
48.0%min -8.1%
Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe438K games
45.6%min -9.2%
Alekhine Defense: Spielmann Gambit29K games
45.8%min -9.4%
Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Tartakower Variation788 games
47.4%min -11.0%
Alekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Lasker Simul Gambit58K games
44.3%min -12.2%
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Voronezh Variation47K games
43.8%min -13.3%
Alekhine Defense: The Squirrel63K games
43.6%min -13.5%
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Vitolins Attack860 games
43.8%min -18.0%
Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe, Modern Line2.0K games
42.8%min -18.1%
Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation, Everglades Variation320 games
44.6%min -19.9%
Analyze Alekhine Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates at your level with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Alekhine Defense win rate?

The Alekhine Defense family has a 49.1% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.1%) win rate for white, aggregated from 54 variations and 20M rated games from Lichess.

How many Alekhine Defense variations are there?

This analysis covers 54 Alekhine Defense variations with sufficient game data. Each variation has its own statistics page with detailed win rates by rating and time control.

At what rating does the Alekhine Defense perform best?

The Alekhine Defense family performs best at 1000-1199 Elo with a 51.4% win rate for white (1.3M games). Performance may vary by specific variation.

Is the Alekhine Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Classical (51.9%) outperforms UltraBullet (48.3%) by 3.6% across all Alekhine Defense variations.

How sharp is the Alekhine Defense?

Alekhine Defense games are 96.1% decisive (non-draws), with an average length of 34 moves. Sharpness varies by specific variation.

Is the Alekhine Defense a good opening family?

The Alekhine Defense family is statistically balanced overall with a 49.1% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.1%) aggregated win rate. However, win rates vary significantly between the 54 variations—explore individual lines to find the best fit for your style.