In just looking at the database here, the most common line is Nfd7 (473 games) followed by Ne4 (400) and then d4 (278).
I've only played the Alekhine a few times so I don't know what the best lines and ideas would be. I also don't know if more recent game provide any different lines.
The most common line in the DB after the position posted, is 5. d4 c5
yes and the fianchetto is pretty vulnerable to an early h4. this is a theory line and black should be ok, but i don't really like it.
i think 3..d4 is the better (though somewhat boring) option if you enter this line. i'm personally happy to just play 2..e5 having avoided the ruy and some other systems.
You just push your pawn, trade off knights. When he takes your g pawn next you take the d pawn WITH CHECK. You'll automatically enter an endgame as most people take with the queen and you can trade those off too with check, allowing you to take the pawn back with your bishop
1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. e5 d4 4. exf6 dxc3 5. fxg7 cxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 7. Bxd2 Bxg7 Bare with me if that's wrong. I'm doing this from my phone at work lol
After pushing the pawn and taking with check as Goob63 described, the pawn structure seems to favor white. Some advantageous aspects are the quick attack on the b2 pawn and the ability to castle queenside, bringing a rook immediately onto a semi-open file. The bishop just feels really exposed.
Ne4 seems like the most promising option. The pawn on e4 doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to defend
1 e4 Nf6 2 Nc3 d5 3 e5 d4 4 ef6 dc3 5 fg7 cd2 6 Bd2 Bg7
has always gotten me excellent positions.
In fact, it is the most likely continuation.
this is called the Spielmann Gambit.Not really a problem for black if you tread carefully.here's a sample line...
@CerebralAssassin19 how should black address his king safety in this line?
Sadly its not. 6.Bxd2 Bxg7 7.Qf3 and now Bxb2 8.Bc4! followed by Rb1 or almost any other move, 8.0-0-0 and white have more promising position.
Maybe Black plays 7...0-0 with total equality.
this is called the Spielmann Gambit.Not really a problem for black if you tread carefully.here's a sample line...
That pawn structure though...
Sadly its not. 6.Bxd2 Bxg7 7.Qf3 and now Bxb2 8.Bc4! followed by Rb1 or almost any other move, 8.0-0-0 and white have more promising position.
White has nothing, despite Taylor's claims in his Alekhine book.
I am not even close to your level, but I play this variation almost exclusively and allways found white side to be easier to play. Also according to my(rather outdated) database, white seems to do better than average. Could you post me at least small part of variation or illustrating game that shows black best plan of defense? Thanks
Black has several good ways to play. Taking the b2 pawn is likely best, but it does need good preparation, since white gets compensation. But Black can also play much safer:
Playing French style 4...Nfd7 is also fine- the 5.e6 gambit is not dangerous (about equal with best play).
Once Black gets his king into safety, his central pawn mass is a serious issue.
@pfren should black consider playing a6 before Nc6 in order to prevent Bb5?
@pfren should black consider playing a6 before Nc6 in order to prevent Bb5?
Yes, it's playable- and somewhat risky, as all time wasting moves. I guess white can do better than that:
@pfren
Wow, thanks for this. I never considered this move 8.0-0-0 h5 before, but might be 9.Bb5 improvement? 9...Bg4 10.Bxc6 Kf8 11.Qe4 Bxd1 12.Bxb7 Rb8 13.Kxd1 seems rather unclear to me, but probably its ok for black.
On the other hand, 8...Qd6 seems really fine for black.
Yeah. Like I said. Total equality.
Is possible to play 4 d4 with better play for white?
Apparently you mean after 3...Nfd7.
4.d4 e6 is a Steintz French by transposition, but there is no need for ...e6 yet- Black can play 4...c5 right away.
If white wants to enter a Steinitz French, then 4.f4! is the most accurate way to do it.
Ok thanks but at 4....c5 5 Nxd5 cxd4 6Bb5 Nc6 7 Nf3 with a very good play for white. I think is better for white this position. What idea have you. It is wright this idea
White is well on his way to defeat after 4...c5 5.Nxd5?! cxd4 6.Bb5? e6.
The knight cannot move away since the check from a5 wins the audacious bishop, and neither 7.Bxd7+ Nxd7 (loses the e5 pawn for nothing) nor 7.Bg5 Qxg5 8.Nxc7+ Kd8 9.Nxa8 Qxg2 look good.
This is good idea with your help 1e4 Nf6 2Nc3 d5 3e5 Nfd7 4 d4 c5 5 Nxd5 cxd4 6Bb5 e6 7Bg5 Qxg5 8Nxc7+ Kd8 9Nxa8 Qxg2 10 Qf3 with ventage material for white. And if continou with 10......Bb4+ 11c3 dxc3 12 bxc3 Bxc3+ 13 Qxc3 Qxh1 14 Qc7+ Ke7 15Qd6 + Kd8 16 0-0-0 with very strong attack for white. Do you have the same idea?
Of course not.
In your line Black will play 12...Qxf3 first, and then pick the rook on a1.
Play may go 13.Nxf3 Bxc3+ 14.Ke2 Bxa1 15.Rxa1 b6 and the a8 knight is doomed. Black seems slightly better with an extra piece and pawn, doesn't he? 
Don't mess too much with that crap, sir... white simply stands as good as lost after 6.Bb5?.
4.f4! with a highly likely transposition to a French Steinitz is best. While I am not sure white has any advantage in the Steinitz, I don't think Black has to enter all that: 3...d4 is relatively simple, and good enough for equality.
I've tried out Alekhine's Defense a bit lately as I like the concept of luring the opponent into creating a liability in the form of a large pawn structure. Often, after 1. Nf6, white neglects to do so, playing 2. Nc3. After playing 2. d5, black reaches a very desirable position in the case of an exchange with a centralized queen that doesn't have a knight to kick it around.
But the worst response I've seen so far is when white then decides to push the pawn. This can transpose into the French defense, but I'm not sure what to do or how best to avoid this line:
Should I avoid this altogether by moving my knight to e4 instead of d7? What's the best continuation for black?