Alekhine Defence Deviation

Hi everyone.

I have been studying the Alekhine Defence for a couple of weeks.

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 is the line the books I have give in every game and games continue from the resulting position with various variations.

I was wondering why 2. ...Ne4 is not considered a move worthy of consideration. Does it commit the knight too far forward too early? Is there an obvious response from white that makes this a bad move?

It looks to me like 3. d4 looks strong for white as black has few places for the knight to go.

Black can play 3. ...e6 and threaten moves like Qh4+ if white plays f3. Black can also play d5 to protect the knight and if white takes en passant, the knight recaptures and is then safe.

Any other ideas?

Thanks for reading this. I appreciate any useful comments.

So the official name for this is the Mokele Mbembe! Thanks Nosferatu. Interesting article.

I'm quite assured by fritz that it is dead as dead can be.

What does fritz tell you rexbo? I've never used it.

Thanks

A great video by FM Grant Szuveges on how to handle the Alekhine as white: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz6z7LW4zqI&list=PLSClIVKbmGUcMqFQVICgYPuO_a7DtDkWy&index=18