Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.O-O Bf5 11.Bf4

ECO B03

The Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation is a chess opening line in the Alekhine Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.O-O Bf5 11.Bf4.

It is catalogued under code B03 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move Bf4 is chosen by White on move 11.

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Alekhine Defense course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.