Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
1,623 games: White 50.0% / Draw 5.9% / Black 44.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 549549 | ||
| 430430 | ||
| 333333 | ||
| 8080 | ||
| 5757 | ||
| 5656 | ||
| 2727 | ||
| 2222 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.26 The position is about equal
Best play: 11... e5 12. Be3 d5 13. c5 Nc4 14. Bxc4 dxc4 15. d5 Nb4 16. Ne1
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation (ECO B03, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, 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 (11 moves).
In 1,623 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.0%, Black 44.1% and 5.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 11…d5, in 34% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation
11…Rc8 scores best for Black: 48.0%, with Black winning 46.2% and White 50.2% of 333 games. The most played, 11…d5, scores 46.6% in 549 games, and 11…e5 scores lowest: 45.3%. Stockfish's first choice is 11…e5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Alekhine Defense: Exchange Variation, Karpov Variation (B03)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/alekhine-defense-exchange-variation-karpov-variation