Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Lasker Variation
The Lasker Variation is 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5, where White pushes the c-pawn again to kick the knight before playing d4. White gains time, but the c5 pawn is loose; Black must return the knight to d5 and later win that pawn or exploit it.
- Moves
- 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5
- ECO
- B02
- Engine
- +0.21 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 748 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 53.9%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- After 4...Nd5 play 5.Bc4, attacking the knight and developing toward f7.
- Follow with Nc3 to trade on d5 and d4 to defend c5, gaining time on a bishop that takes there.
- If Black errs with ...d6 or ...g6, take with 5.cxb6 and White wins the knight.
Black
- 4...Nd5 is the right retreat; moves that ignore the attack, like ...d6 or ...g6, lose the knight.
- Answer Bc4 with ...e6 to support the knight, then take the c5 pawn with ...Bxc5, as in the engine line.
- Play ...d6 later to hit e5 once c5 is gone and your pieces are developed.
Plans and pawn structure
The game hinges on the c5 pawn. White trades on d5 with Nc3 and recaptures to open lines, hoping the time spent pays off with d4 and a strong center. Black takes on c5, castles and then challenges e5 with ...d6 or ...f6. After the engine line 6...Bxc5 7.d4 Nxc3 8.bxc3, Black is a pawn up but the c5 bishop must move, and White gets a broad center with tempo.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.21: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.21 4...Nd5 5.Bc4 e6 6.Nc3 Bxc5 7.d4
- +3.51 4...d6 5.cxb6 axb6 6.Nf3 dxe5 7.Nxe5
- +3.73 4...g6 5.cxb6 c5 6.bxa7 Nc6 7.Nf3
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
748 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.9%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Hunt Variation, Mikenas Gambit4...Nd5 · rare
How to play against it
Retreat 4...Nd5 at once. Then play ...e6 and grab the c5 pawn with the bishop when White cannot defend it. Do not leave the knight on b6 to make a developing move, which loses a piece. Once c5 falls, aim ...d6 at the e5 pawn while White's center is still loose.
Questions
What are the moves of the Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Lasker Variation?
The Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Lasker Variation starts 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.c5. Its ECO code is B02.
Is the Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Lasker Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.21 at depth 20, which is level. In 748 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.9%. A tricky line that catches players who forget the knight is hanging, but against 4...Nd5 White has nothing special.
What is the main idea of the Alekhine Defense: Two Pawns Attack, Lasker Variation?
White pushes c5 to chase the knight back to d5 and gain time with Bc4 and Nc3. Black accepts the chase, then wins the c5 pawn with ...e6 and ...Bxc5, while White hopes the extra development and d4 compensate.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Nd5, with d6 and g6 close behind. 4...Nd5 saves the knight and puts it back in the center, where ...e6 will support it.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.