Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe

Definition

The Mokele Mbembe is a modern, hyper-aggressive branch of the Alekhine Defense (ECO B02) in which Black combines the traditional invitation to over-extend White’s centre with a King’s-Indian-style fianchetto. The name—taken from a legendary Congolese swamp creature—was coined by Icelandic GM Henrik Danielsen to highlight the line’s rarity, unpredictability and “monster” counter-punching potential.

Typical Move-Order

The variation can arise through several paths; one of the cleanest is:

1. e4 Nf6
2. e5 Nd5
3. d4 d6
4. c4 Nb6
5. exd6 cxd6
6. Nc3 g6
7. Nf3 Bg7

The tabiya after 7…Bg7 is considered the starting point of the Mokele Mbembe, though transpositions from 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 etc. are common.

How It Is Used

Black players adopt the Mokele Mbembe when they want to:

Sidestep heavily-analysed main lines (4…dxe5, 4…Bg4, the Four-Pawns Attack, etc.).
Obtain a dynamic, unbalanced middlegame with chances to seize the initiative once White’s centre is fixed.
Keep options flexible—Black can break with …dxe5, …c5, …e5 or even …f6 depending on where White commits pieces and pawns.

Strategic Themes

Delayed Central Breaks. By refraining from an immediate …dxe5, Black encourages the e-pawn to stay on e5 so that it later becomes a target.
King’s-Indian Motifs. The fianchettoed bishop on g7 eyes d4 and e5; Black frequently employs …Nc6, …Bg4 and pawn storms on the queenside.
Queenside Majority. After …cxd6, Black retains two pawns vs. one on the queenside, which can become a decisive factor in endgames.
Piece Manoeuvres. Typical routes include …Nb6–d7–b6 (repositioning) or …Nb6–a4–b6 to harass White’s bishops, and …Nf6–d5/g4 depending on pawn structures.

Illustrative Games

Sergey Karjakin – Christian Bauer, European Championship 2011. Black equalised smoothly and converted the superior pawn structure in a long ending.
Henrik Danielsen – Hjörvar Kjartansson, Icelandic Championship 2005. Illustrates the razor-sharp opposite-wing pawn thrusts that can arise when White castles long.

Tactical Motifs to Know

…Bxf3 followed by …Nc6xd4. A frequent exchange-sacrifice idea that can shatter White’s centre and open the long diagonal.
Forks with …Nb4–d3. The b6-knight often jumps in to harass c1/g2 bishops or pick up the f2-pawn.
e4-e5 break (for White) vs. …c5 (for Black). Timing is everything; the side that opens the centre under better circumstances usually wrests the initiative.

Historical & Practical Significance

• The line first caught database attention after Danielsen’s 2004 DVD “The Mokele Mbembe,” where he compared the variation to a hidden dinosaur waiting to ambush the unprepared.
• It has since been employed sporadically by creative grandmasters such as Vassily Ivanchuk and Viktor Bologan, but remains rare enough to retain surprise value.
• Engines evaluate the starting position around equality (≈0.00), yet practical results in master play tilt noticeably toward Black thanks to unfamiliarity.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

Mokele Mbembe means “one who stops the flow of rivers.” Fittingly, Black’s set-up aims to block White’s pawn river before bursting through with counter-play.
Henrik Danielsen’s fondness for quirky names also gave us the “Polar-Bear System” (1.f4) and the “Kid Roc” line in the French Defense.
Because the structure can morph into a Modern or King’s Indian Defence, some databases double-classify it under B06 or E60, making prep harder for White.

Practical Tips for Both Sides

For Black: Don’t rush …dxe5; complete development and strike only when you can meet dxe5 with …dxe5 recaptures or …c5 breaks.
For White: Consider early c4 and d5 space-gaining advances, but keep an eye on the d4-square—Black’s g7-bishop and knights will target it relentlessly.
Endgames: If queens come off early, Black’s queenside majority often tells; White should aim to keep pieces on and exploit lead in space.

Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe