ECO code: B02
Opening Name: Alekhine Defense: 3.Bc4
Moves: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Bc4
Description: The Alekhine Defense is an unconventional hypermodern opening where Black invites White to advance pawns early to gain space, planning to undermine and attack this center later. The move 3.Bc4 is a less common, aggressive try by White, developing the bishop to an active diagonal aiming at Black’s vulnerable f7 square. This move puts immediate pressure on Black's position and accelerates White's piece development.
Characteristic: The move 3.Bc4 is characteristic of White’s intent to launch a quick attack and exploit Black's somewhat exposed knight on d5. It prioritizes rapid piece activity over immediate central pawn support.
Attacking or Defensive: For White, 3.Bc4 is an attacking move, aiming to challenge Black’s setup and threaten key weaknesses early on. Black, in response, remains mostly on the defensive, needing to carefully neutralize White’s pressure while counterattacking the advanced e5-pawn.
Center Control: This opening phase involves a battle for the center. White has pushed the e-pawn to e5, claiming space, while Black’s knight on d5 contests central squares. The Bishop move to c4 supports White’s influence over the center indirectly by targeting Black’s weak f7 square, rather than occupying the center with pawns directly.
This opening is defined by the position shown on the board below. The moves displayed are a typical sequence that leads to it, but different sequences can reach the same position and still carry the same opening name.
Practice puzzles and train your tactics with real positions from games that used the Alekhine: 3.Bc4, and sharpen your opening mastery.
Puzzle 1 of 14 - Move #4 white