Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation: what to play after Nd5?

In the Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation (ECO B02), the position after e4 Nf6 e5 forces the black knight to the d5 square. White typically continues with d4, the most popular choice played in 43.9% of over 28 million recorded games, to solidify control of the center and prepare for the Four Pawns Attack or the Exchange Variation. This move carries an engine evaluation of +0.62 and leads to a white scoring percentage of 50.3%.

The Classical Approach with d4

The move d4 is the theoretical cornerstone of this position, establishing a strong central presence while challenging Black to undermine the e5 pawn. In the main line d4 d6 c4 Nb6 f4 Bf5, White expands the space advantage significantly. While this provides White with a spatial lead, it also gives Black clear targets for counterattacks, characteristic of the hypermodern philosophy behind the Alekhine Defense.

The Two Pawns Attack and c4

The second most frequent continuation is c4, occurring in 33.8% of games. With an engine evaluation of +0.67, this move immediately kicks the d5 to the b6 square. The resulting main line c4 Nb6 d4 d6 f4 Bf5 often transposes into the Four Pawns Attack, where White attempts to overwhelm Black with a massive pawn center at the cost of development speed.

Developing Alternatives

White may opt for more restrained development through Nf3 or Nc3. The move Nf3 is played in 8.8% of games and maintains a solid +0.51 evaluation, often leading to the line Nf3 c5 Nc3 e6 Nxd5 exd5. Meanwhile, Nc3 boasts the highest win rate among the top choices at 53.7%, frequently resulting in an early trade of knights after Nc3 Nxc3 dxc3 d6 Nf3 Nc6. Finally, Bc4 remains a viable alternative, played in 6.0% of games, focusing on rapid piece activity against the f7 square.