Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation: what should Black play?

In the Alekhine Defense: Krejcik Variation, Black achieves full equality and the lowest White scoring rate with e6. This solid pawn break blunts the diagonal of the c4 on c4 while preparing an immediate central thrust with d5. Evaluated by engines at -0.06, it represents Black's most effective continuation among the 257,968 games recorded in this position.

The Strategy Behind e6

Choosing e6 is the most popular choice, played in 34.6% of games (89K recorded). It directly challenges White's setup by restricting the light-squared bishop and laying the groundwork for d5. Against this, White achieves a scoring rate of 46.8%, which is the lowest performance among Black's major options. An illustrative engine continuation runs e6 Nd2 d5 Bb5 a6 Bxc6+, where Black gains the bishop pair after White trades on c6.

Alternative Central Approaches

Black frequently contests the center immediately via e5 or d5. The classical push e5 occurs in 29.0% of recorded games (75K recorded) and leads to open positions, evaluated at +0.12 with White scoring 54.4%, as seen in the sample sequence e5 Nf3 Bc5 O-O d6 c3. Alternatively, striking at once with d5 accounts for 28.0% of games (72K recorded) and an engine evaluation of +0.05. After d5 exd5 Nxd5 Nf3 Bg4 h3, White scores 49.3% in a dynamic, open center.

Flank and Setup Variations

Less direct tries include d6 and a6. The flexible d6 appears in 6.0% of games (15K recorded) with an evaluation of +0.09, often continuing d6 c3 g6 a4 Bg7 h3 where White scores 54.3%. The quiet wing move a6 holds an engine evaluation of +0.00 across 2.4% of games (6.1K recorded), following the path a6 Nf3 b5 Bb3 Na5 Nbd2 where White scores 56.8%.