Chess Openings Lab
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Alekhine Defense: Balogh Variation

The Balogh Variation is 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4, where White develops the bishop to hit the d5 knight instead of playing Nf3 or c4. White aims at f7 and wants to keep e5; Black wants to gain time on the bishop and break up the center.

Moves
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4
ECO
B03
Engine
+0.26 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
346 games in our lichess sample
White scores
46.8%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 4...Nb6 retreat with 5.Bb3, keeping the bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal toward f7.
  • If Black takes on e5, Qh5 hits f7 at once, as in the engine line 5...dxe5 6.Qh5 e6.
  • Against 4...c6, support e5 with f4 and develop with Ne2 and O-O, as the second engine line does.

Black

  • 4...Nb6 attacks the bishop and gains time, then ...dxe5 and ...e6 shut the diagonal toward f7.
  • 4...c6 props up the d5 knight so the bishop bites on granite, and ...Bf5 develops outside the pawn chain.
  • Strike with ...c5 once e6 is played, hitting d4 the way the top engine line does with 7...c5.

Plans and pawn structure

White's bishop gives quick pressure on f7 and the d5 knight, so many games feature a queen jump to h5 or a later f4 to hold e5. If Black meets Qh5 with ...e6, the c8 bishop is hemmed in, and Black must free the game with ...c5 and ...Nc6. If White plays f4, the center is broad but e3 and the dark squares near White's king become loose. Black's best results come from hitting d4 with ...c5 and developing fast, not from grabbing pawns.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.26: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.26 4...Nb6 5.Bb3 dxe5 6.Qh5 e6 7.dxe5
  2. +0.37 4...c6 5.f4 Bf5 6.Ne2 e6 7.O-O
  3. +0.40 4...dxe5 5.dxe5 c6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

346 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 46.8%.

1200–159950.0%
1600–199946.2%
2000 and up47.2%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

Play 4...Nb6 to hit the bishop, or 4...c6 to keep the knight on d5 firmly. After ...dxe5, be ready for Qh5 and answer with ...e6, not a pawn move that weakens the king. Never leave f7 attacked by both bishop and queen with only the king defending it.

Questions

What are the moves of the Alekhine Defense: Balogh Variation?

The Alekhine Defense: Balogh Variation starts 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4. Its ECO code is B03.

Is the Alekhine Defense: Balogh Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.26 at depth 20, which is level. In 346 lichess games from our sample, White scored 46.8%. A practical attacking choice for White that avoids heavy theory, while Black needs to stay alert to queen tricks against f7.

What is the main idea of the Alekhine Defense: Balogh Variation?

White develops the bishop to c4 to pressure the d5 knight and f7 instead of grabbing space with c4. Black answers by gaining time on the bishop with ...Nb6 or by solidifying with ...c6, then breaks with ...c5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Nb6, with c6 and dxe5 close behind. 4...Nb6 hits the bishop at once, so Black gains a tempo before deciding how to treat e5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.