Alekhine: Scandinavian, 3.e5 Nfd7

Alekhine: Scandinavian, 3.e5 Nfd7

Definition

“Alekhine: Scandinavian, 3.e5 Nfd7” is a sub-variation of the Scandinavian Defence that arises after the moves 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. e5 Nfd7. The critical feature is White’s advance of the e-pawn to e5 on move three, voluntarily conceding the d5-pawn so as to gain space and time, while Black’s knight drops back to d7 (instead of the more combative 3…Nxd5). The retreat is reminiscent of the strategy in Alekhine’s Defence (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5), hence the historical label “Alekhine variation” inside the Scandinavian.

Typical Move-order

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. e5 Nfd7  (diagram after 3…Nfd7)

Strategic Ideas

• White claims space with the e5-pawn, intends d4, c4 and Nc3 to build a broad pawn centre and restrict the black knights.
• Black willingly postpones recapturing on d5. The knight on d7 supports a later …Nb6 or …Nb8–c6, and Black will undermine the advanced e5-pawn with …c5, …e6 or …f6, aiming at central counterplay.
• The resulting structures often resemble French Defence positions (Advance Variation) with colours reversed, giving both sides familiar plan-templates.
• Tactically, the open a1–h8 diagonal can appear quickly after …g6 or …Bf5, so White must watch the b1–h7 diagonal when pushing c4.

Historical Background

Alexander Alekhine analysed the line in the early 1920s, proposing 3…Nfd7 as a dynamic answer that avoids early piece exchanges and keeps the position unbalanced. The variation never achieved mainstream popularity like the 2…Qxd5 or 2…Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 lines, but it has been employed sporadically by creative players seeking to drag opponents out of preparation. Grandmasters such as Vladimir Malaniuk and Sergei Tiviakov have tested it in tournament play, while French star Christian Bauer devoted analytical chapters to the idea in his monograph on the Scandinavian.

Plans for Both Sides

• White
  1. 4.d4 Nb6 5.c4 (gaining further space)
  2. Nc3, Nf3 and Be2/Bd3, then castling short.
  3. Advance the queenside majority with c5 or d5-d6 in favourable circumstances.
  4. A kingside initiative can arise after h4–h5 when Black fianchettoes with …g6.
• Black
  1. Break in the centre with …c5 or …e6, challenging d4 and e5.
  2. Develop harmoniously: …Nb6, …Bf5 (or …Bg4 in “Portuguese” style), …e6, …Be7 and short castling.
  3. If White over-expands, strike with …f6 to shatter the pawn chain.
  4. Endgames where the d5-pawn eventually falls can be very favourable for the second player.

Illustrative Example

The following miniature shows typical themes.

After 14…e6 the black light-squared bishop emerges freely, and the undermining break …c5 is still in the air, underlining the thematic counterplay against White’s advanced centre.

Practical Usage

The variation is a surprise weapon rather than a staple of elite repertoires. In rapid and blitz it appears more frequently, because the unfamiliar structure can lead to opponents consuming large amounts of time. Club players who favour French-style positions with Black but wish to meet 1.e4 with the Scandinavian often add 3…Nfd7 to their repertoire.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Even though it bears Alekhine’s name, there is no record of the World Champion actually playing the line in tournament practice; his contribution was analytical.
• The move 3.e5?! scores roughly 55 % for White in modern databases, but when only the sub-reply 3…Nfd7 is considered, the numbers drop to near 50 %, illustrating Black’s solidity.
• Because Black avoids an immediate recapture on d5, engines at low depths once mis-evaluated the position as clearly better for White; at higher depths the assessment usually settles around equality.
• Some authors nickname the set-up “Scandi-French” because the structure after …e6 and …c5 practically mirrors the French Defence with an extra tempo for each side.

Further Study

• Scandinavian Defence – An Expert Repertoire for Black by Christian Bauer (quality analysis on 3…Nfd7).
• Chess Publishing archives, monthly updates on off-beat Scandinavian lines.
• Database search: filter games with the ECO code B01 and the position after 3.e5 Nfd7 to see how grandmasters handle the ensuing middlegames.