- ECO code
- B02
- Moves
- 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5
- Family
- Alekhine Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 633
- Average game length
- 44 moves
- Years covered
- 1921–2026
Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation is the opening filed under ECO code B02, reached after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5. It belongs to the Alekhine Defense family and is known as the Normal Variation; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 633 games on this line — the 176th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1921 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2020s, with 237 games. An average game here lasts 44 moves.
White wins 46% of those games, 26% end in a draw, and Black wins 28%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%). Draws are less common here than usual, by 9 points.
From this position the most popular move is 3.d4, played in 525 games, followed by 3.c4 (50) and 3.Nc3 (29). 3.d4 leads into Alekhine Defense. After 3.d4 White scores 47% and Black 27%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Firouzja,Alireza (39 games); on the Black side, Bortnyk,Olexandr (68).
3 named variations branch off this position and have their own page here, among them Alekhine Defense; Alekhine Defense; Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation.
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Results in master games
- White 46% (289)
- Draws 26% (166)
- Black 28% (178)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.d4 | 525 | 47/26/27 | Alekhine Defense |
| 3.c4 | 50 | 44/28/28 | — |
| 3.Nc3 | 29 | 38/24/38 | — |
| 3.Nf3 | 21 | 33/43/24 | — |
| 3.Bc4 | 6 | 0/17/83 | — |
| 3.g3 | 2 | 0/0/100 | — |
Variations from this position
- Alekhine Defense · 3.d4 · 525 games
- Alekhine Defense · 3.d4 d6 · 513 games
- Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation · 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 · 344 games
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- Alekhine Defense · 1.e4 Nf6 · 772 games
Played most often by
As White
- Firouzja,Alireza 39
- Shirov,A 30
- Grischuk,A 29
As Black
- Bortnyk,Olexandr 68
- Carlsen,M 35
- Larsen, Bent 29
Games per decade
- 1920s 27
- 1930s 17
- 1940s 7
- 1950s 16
- 1960s 49
- 1970s 41
- 1980s 23
- 1990s 41
- 2000s 116
- 2010s 59
- 2020s 237
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grischuk,A | Bortnyk,Olexandr | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 3rd Feb 2026 |
| Carlsen,M | Bortnyk,Olexandr | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Titled Tue 27th Jan 2026 |
| Caruana,F | Taher,Yoseph Theolifus | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 21st Apr 2026 |
| So,W | Bortnyk,Olexandr | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | Chess.com Open PlayIn1 |
| Sargsyan,Shant | Rapport,R | 1/2-1/2 | 2026 | FIDE World Rapid Team |
| Naiditsch,A | Rapport,R | 1-0 | 2026 | FIDE World Rapid Team |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation?
It is the opening with ECO code B02, reached after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5. It belongs to the Alekhine Defense family.
Is the Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation good for White or for Black?
In 633 master games on this line White wins 46%, 26% are drawn and Black wins 28%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is no worse than usual for White than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation?
3.d4 — played in 525 of the master games on this line, which leads into Alekhine Defense.
Which grandmasters play the Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation?
On the White side Firouzja,Alireza (39), Shirov,A (30), Grischuk,A (29); on the Black side Bortnyk,Olexandr (68), Carlsen,M (35), Larsen, Bent (29).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
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