Unlock the Secrets of the Alekhine's Defense:
Your Complete Resource Guide
The Alekhine's Defense (1. e4 Nf6) is a dynamic and aggressive chess opening where Black challenges White's central control early on.
This unconventional approach can catch your opponents off guard and create excellent winning chances with a complex and unbalanced middlegame.
Ready to unlock the secrets of the Alekhine's Defense and surprise your opponents? Let's explore the resources!
Wikipedia Page
BOOKS (Free)
Internet Archive
Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence by John Cox - 97 Page PDF
Alekhine Alert!: A Repertoire for Black against 1 e4 by Timothy Taylor - 287 Page PDF
Alekhine's Defense Chess Articles
Alekhine Defense: How to Play as White and Black - Chessable Blog Opening Guide ( Very nice) - This comprehensive guide covers everything from strategic concepts and tactics to specific variations for both Black and White. It emphasizes the dynamic nature of the defense and offers practical advice for all skill levels. (Great all-around resource)
The Alekhine's Defence - Simplify Chess Guide - Another In-depth Guide To Learn this opening.
Alekhine’s Defense - Guide from IM Alberto Chueca - This article provides a quick start for Black players, focusing on the main line and core concepts behind the aggressive Alekhine approach. (Ideal for beginners who want to try the Alekhine quickly.
Alekhine's Defense: World Champion Openings - GM Bryan Smith - This in-depth guide explores the aggressive Alekhine's Defense (1...Nf6). Learn how to exploit White's space advantage and launch your own attacks, with historical examples and strategic insights.
Alekhine's Defense LiChess Studies
Up your Alekhine's Defense with Interactive Lichess Studies!
- Alekhine's Defense: A Primer - 10 Chapter Study ( 100 hearts)
- The Alekhine's Defence - 8 Chapter Study (110 hearts)
- All lines in the Alekhine's Defense - 55 Chapter Study
- Alekhine Defense Masterclass - 19 Chapter Study (Video study made for Alekhine Defense Opening Masterclass - 94 min )
- Alekhine Defence: The Fast Knight development! - FM Chris Dunworth - 16 Min
LISTUDY Alekhine Defense (Site Where Studies are put in and turned into Movetrainer Courses)
Alekhine's Defense - 26 Chapters (Can Learn and Practice all the Opening Moves here!)
New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.
Game Databases
Chessgames.com
Alekhine's Defense (B02-B05) - 12 Annotated Games
Alekhine Defense Sadler's Collections Plus - 103 Games
Historically Important Alekhine's Defense Games - 38 Games
Alekhine's Defense (B02-B05) - 12,061 Games
365Chess.com
B02: Alekhine's defence 1. e4 Nf6 - 41,400 Games
B03: Alekhine's defence 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 - 22,610 Games
B04: Alekhine's defence, modern variation 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 - 13,000 Games
B05: Alekhine's defence, modern variation, 4...Bg4 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 - 5900 Games
Alekhine's Defense Chess Puzzles
wtharvey.com
Alekhine's Defense (ECO B02) - 8 Puzzles
Alekhine's Defense (ECO B03) - 7 Puzzles
Alekhine's Defense, Modern (ECO B04) - 9 Puzzles
Alekhine's Defense, Modern (ECO B05) - 13 Puzzles
LiChess Puzzle Page
Alekhine Defense - 6000+ Puzzles (Almost halfway down the Page - w/ 13 Variations to pick from)
Alekhine Defense Videos
Lessons
Alekhine Defense Opening Theory - 6 Video Playlist - Hanging Pawns
Alekhine's Defense - 41 Video playlist - Sibi Chess
Alekhine's Defense: Lecture by GM Ben Finegold - 50 Min - History, key strategies & famous games to understand this aggressive opening.
How to Play the Alekhine Defence | Grandmaster Repertoire - 22 Min - GM Mouthun - Grandmaster Repertoire on how to play the Alekhine with Black.
Alekhine's Defense - Concepts and Quick Theoretical Overview - 60 min - Tony Rotella - I give a brief overview of the history and lore of Alekhine's Defense, why you'd want to give it a punt as Black, as well as a quick tour of the main variations.
The Alekhine Defense ♟ – Play for a Win with Black! - GM Marian Petrov - 61 Min - dives deep into the Four Pawns Variation, showing Black how to exploit an aggressive pawn structure. (Ideal for players who want to learn a specific, sharp variation.)
Alekhine Defense Opening Masterclass - 94 min - This comprehensive video covers all 14 variations and 6 gambits within the Alekhine Defense. (Best for those who want an exhaustive exploration of every line.)
Beat 1.e4 with Alekhine's Defense!! - 34 min - IM David Fitzsimons - analyzes how World Champion Magnus Carlsen uses the Alekhine, discussing various strategies and lines. (Perfect for players who want to learn from a master.)
Play the Alekhine Defense ♟Chess Opening with GM Damian Lemos - 27 min -focuses on core concepts like counter-attacking and pawn structure, providing viewers with the tools to navigate the Alekhine's complexities. (Solid choice for players who want a strategic overview with variations.)
Alekhine Defense Traps and Tactics
- CHESS OPENING TRAP FOR BLACK- ALEKHINE DEFENCE - 3 Min
- 6 Best Chess Opening Traps in the Alekhine's Defense - 16 min GM Igor Smirnov
- Dirty Chess Tricks 29 (Axe The Alekhine) - 26 Min
- Dirty Chess Tricks 67 (g6 Alekhine) - 17 Min
- Dirty Chess Tricks 64 (Legal Trap in Alekhine) - 12 Min
Playing Against the Alekhine's Defense
Refute the Alekhine Defence / Exchange Variation / Full Repertoire! - 35 min -Master a complete repertoire against the Alekhine's Defense, focusing on the Exchange Variation. Learn "secret" strategies and White's most effective continuations.
Chess Training
Learn a strong Exchange Variation repertoire for White against the Alekhine's Defense. This 3-part series explores main lines and sidelines after Black's ...cxd6 capture.
- Alekhine defense for White Part 1- Exchange variation with ...cxd6 - 12 Min - In this video-series we suggest the exchange variation for a white repertoire against the Alekhine defense. In this 1st part we will see the black sidelines after ...cxd6 (except the basic 9...e5 variation).
- Alekhine defense for White Part 2 - Exchange variation with ...cxd6 - 12 Min - In this 2nd part we will see the main line after ...cxd6 with 9...e5 .
- Alekhine defense for White Part 3 - Exchange variation with ...exd6 - 24 min - In this 3rd part we will see the solid symmetrical line for Black ...exd6.
Chess Tips: Crush The Alekhine Defense!! - 43 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic -Master the Samisch Attack, a dynamic strategy to counter the Alekhine's Defense. IM Perunovic emphasizes controlling the center, exploiting weaknesses, and tactical opportunities for White.
Chess Openings: Crazy 2 Pawns Attack vs Alekhine Defense!! - 35 Min - IM Miodrag Perunovic - Explore the aggressive "Crazy 2 Pawns Attack" against the Alekhine's Defense. IM Perunovic showcases pawn sacrifices, tactical ideas, and strategies for gaining an advantage.
How to WIN against the Alekhine Defense - 29 min - IM Alex Astaneh -Learn winning strategies against the Alekhine's Defense! IM Astaneh emphasizes center control, development, and tactical ideas for White. He analyzes common mistakes and offers tricks like the h3 move and the d5 pawn sacrifice.
Alekhine Defense Game Videos (w/Analysis)
Alekhine Defense - 7 Video Playlist - agadmantor (Famous Games)
Alekhine's Defense Chess Games - 14 Video Playlist - Chess w/ Suren
Alekhine's Defence - Chess Opening - 111 Video playlist - kingscrusher
Fighting Against the Alekhine's Defense | Classical Chess - 59 Min IM Rosen
GM Naroditsky
Master Class | Alekhine Defense | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 26 Min
Master Class | Alekhine Defense | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 21 Min
Master Class | Alekhine (The Better Scandi) | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 45 Min
Queenside Vs Kingside Castle!! | Alekhine's Defense | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 28 Min
Master Class | Alekhine's Defense | Chess Speedrun | Grandmaster Naroditsky - 20 Min
Four Pawns Attack | Alekhine's Defence | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 22 Min
Chess first of all teaches you to be objective - Alekhine |