B03 · Alekhine Defense
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6
In the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation is a chess opening classified under ECO code B03. It is reached after the moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6: 9 moves in, with Black to play.
It belongs to the Alekhine Defense family — one of many ways the line can branch. Understanding the parent system’s plans is the fastest way to play this variation well.
Club players rarely lose the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.
Play the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation? See where you go wrong.
Deepline reviews your real games, finds the exact moves that cost you, and trains the fixes.
Analyze my games free →Related openings
Alekhine DefenseAlekhine Defense: Chase VariationAlekhine Defense: Brooklyn VariationAlekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation, Everglades VariationAlekhine Defense: Buckley AttackAlekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Lasker Simul GambitAlekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Matsukevich GambitAlekhine Defense: Hunt Variation, Mikenas GambitAlekhine Defense: Kmoch VariationAlekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation