Alekhine Defense, Four Pawns Attack

In Alekhine's Defense, Black brings the knight to f6 early to attack the e4-pawn and invite it to advance. After e5, the knight retreats and White claims more territory with additional pawns. The Four Pawns Attack is named for White's broad pawn center on e5, d4, c4, and f4. These pawns control many central squares and give White more space, meaning more safe territory for the pieces to use. The name describes their placement; it does not mean White must sacrifice all four.

The balance of the position

• In White's favor: the center restricts Black's pieces and can support further advances. Black's knight has already lost time by retreating several times.
• In Black's favor: White has spent many moves on pawns while the knights, bishops, and king still need attention. The center can become overextended, meaning that it occupies a large area but is difficult to defend.

Black attacks this center with ...dxe5, exchanging a central pawn, with ...Bf5 to bring the c8-bishop out and add pressure, or with ...g6 to prepare the f8-bishop for g7. White should not preserve every pawn at any cost; giving back space can be correct if it brings the pieces out and keeps lines open for them. The Exchange Variation clarifies the center earlier and takes less risk with its pawn formation. The Modern Variation plays 4.Nf3 and supports e5 with a piece instead of immediately adding both the c- and f-pawns.