Library/Openings/Alekhine Defense/Four Pawns Attack/Korchnoi Variation ECO B03
Opening· 20 plies

Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO B03), reached after 20 half-moves: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Bf5 7. Nc3 e6 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O f6.

Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation ECO B03
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No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code B03. ECO group B (B00–B99) covers semi-open games (1.e4 with Black playing anything other than 1…e5), with the Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann and Pirc/Modern at its heart. This particular variation is reached after 20 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Bf5 7. Nc3 e6 8. Nf3 Be7 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O f6.

It belongs to the Alekhine Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Four Pawns Attack → Korchnoi Variation line). The immediate parent line is Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, transitioned via 10…f6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 Nf6, 2.e5 Nd5, 3.d4 d6, 4.c4 Nb6, 5.f4 dxe5, 6.fxe5 Bf5. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.