Alekhine Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation (B03)

The Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation is a variation of the Alekhine Defense, catalogued as ECO B03. The line runs 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, reaching the position shown below after 20 half-moves.

White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after ten moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.

On the Alekhine Defense generally: A provocative defense where Black invites White to advance pawns, then attacks the overextended center.

You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.

Position characteristics

• Same-side castling

Related Alekhine Defense lines

• Four Pawns Attack
• Four Pawns Attack, Cambridge Gambit
• Four Pawns Attack, Fianchetto Variation
• Four Pawns Attack, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation
• Four Pawns Attack, Main Line
• Four Pawns Attack, Tartakower Variation
• Four Pawns Attack, Trifunovic Variation
• Hunt Variation
• Hunt Variation, Lasker Simul Gambit
• Hunt Variation, Matsukevich Gambit
• Hunt Variation, Mikenas Gambit
• Kmoch Variation

See all 23 Alekhine Defense variations →

Frequently asked questions

What are the moves of the Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation?

The Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation goes 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 is a variation of the Alekhine Defense and is catalogued as ECO B03.

What is the ECO code for the Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation?

The Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation is ECO B03. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Alekhine Defense.

Is the Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation good for Black?

Stockfish evaluates the position after 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 at +0.70 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.

What kind of position does the Four Pawns Attack, Korchnoi Variation lead to?

White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e5, and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.