1.e4 Nf6 2. e5 :-(

1.e4 Nf6

2.e5 :-(

OK so i've always wanted to reply with Nf6 to the "classical" e4.........but i am afraid of the next move ...that-is--- e5.......you can't take the knight back to its g8 square as you lose "tempo" so what happens is that your knight will usually end up in around "a" or "b" file..if white starts on the knight's hunt........ :-(

I'm a begginer.... can anyone plz tell whats the safest and the best square for the knight..after the 2.e5..????

That's Alekhine's defence. Nd5 would be the move. The idea is to bring the white pawns out hoping to weaken them and attack.

Its fun to play!

The main line in the Alekhine (1.e4 Nf6 is called Alekhine Defense) is 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5, and your Knight eventually ends in b6, I think. The plan is to make white overextend his pawns too much and then try to undermine the center he creates, If I remember it correctly. So don't worry if you move your Knight more than 2 (or than 3) times at the Beginning, that's well known theory, I tihnk

Hi Kamaal

You said you are a beginner. Therefore I would not recommend for you to play the Alekhine. It is double edged and quite tricky, requiring a lot of theoretical knowledge. One wrong move and you are in deep trouble.

You´d better stick to the general rules of the opening:

1. Anchor a pawn in the center

2. Develop light pieces first (knights and bishops)

3. Castle (usually king-side)

4. Bring rooks on open lines

5. Don´t move the same piece twice

6. Not more than 2-3 pawn moves

7. Don´t bring out the queen early - it gets attacked and you lose tempo

Therefore 1. e4 e5 is better for starters.

Cheers, Winnie

i'm bored with 1. e4 e5....thats the probelem..... :-(

I think the Alekhine is flawed on so many levels.

OK - me too

Maybe you try

- the Sicilian 1.e4 c5

- or the French 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5

- or the Caro Kann 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5

Just some examples - surely there are tons of theory behind but in general each of these defenses is better for a beginner than Alekhine.

I thought the general disappointment for Alekhine players was 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 :(. But no: play the move that's played in 80% of the cases and they are in tears already :)

So far no one played the Alekhine against me ... I always wanted to try the 1. e4 Nf6 2. Bc4 Nxe4 3. Bxf7+ line - the computer says Black is better in this line but I can't believe this :)

I don't get it.

You want to reply 1... Nf6 against 1. e4, allowing 1... e5, but you don't like 2. e5, which is the best move for advantage.

If you are afraid of white playing e5, you should play 1... e5. There is some systems (not all are sound) which makes the game kinda sharp:

Alekhines defense illustrates the many choices a player has in defending against e4.  It's a great opening to work through with a friend there are many possible ways to develop after 2. e5   Almost always space becomes an issue with black but if he can survive this the tactics and combinations to follow imo are unique to this defense. If you are newish to chess expect to spend more time then unual working out the kinks in this system but it will be well worth the effort.  

Alekhine's defense is a very instructive opening.  The four pawns attack is overly ambitious on white's part and I wouldn't recommend it.  One shouldn't push pawns unless one has the piece activity to do so.  Any sharp player could crack such broad pawn centers with simple pawn moves and piece pressure.  Why do you think the c4 d4 e4 f4 setup against the KID has fallen out of favor?

  Fischer strategically refuted it leaving white full of holes and black with all the piece activity and endgame chances.  If it weren't for Fischer I'd probably play it myself with the naive belief in a "space advantage" just because I made more pawn moves than the other guy. 

I don't put too much stock in space anyway because Petrosian, Nimzovich, and occasionally Fischer have shown that cramped positions can sometimes contain latent resources that simply leave the side with space overextended with advanced pawn targets. 

When was the last time those guys played the four pawns attack? 

Diagram please.

As a beginner, you may find that you should persevere with 1. ... e5. Go ahead and try other responses to 1.e4, but I think that boredom is something you conquer, not by finding something new and exciting to capture your attention, but by facing it head on. By understanding WHY you are playing a certain move, and not just doing it 'by rote' is important. Remind yourself of all the reasons 1. ... e5 is a good response to 1.e4 before trying new things just because you're bored.

That is my experience in blitz also, IM pfren.  No one ever punishes 2...Ng8 with accurate moves because it is blitz!  I usually get a good position as Black.

I have come to wonder: After 2...Nd5, is the knight too exposed in the center of the board on d5?  Perhaps there is some merit to the idea of putting the knight on g8.

If you don't like 1.e4,e5, then try the Scandanavian Defense. 1.e4,d5. Though, you do lose a tempo. Have fun !