Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
1,879 games: White 48.7% / Draw 5.3% / Black 45.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 964964 | ||
| 841841 | ||
| 3131 | ||
| 1414 | ||
| 77 | ||
| 66 | ||
| 66 | ||
| 44 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 10, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.29 The position is about equal
Best play: 7. e3 Be7 8. Bxc4 a6 9. a4 c5 10. O-O O-O 11. Qb3 cxd4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit (ECO D37, Closed & Semi-Closed Games) is a gambit in the Queen's Gambit Declined: Barmen Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 (6 moves).
In 1,879 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.7%, Black 45.9% and 5.3% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. e4, in 51% 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 Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit
The most played answer, 7. e4, also scores best for White: 53.1%, with White winning 50.3% and Black 44.2% of 964 games. Of the main answers, 7. e3 scores lowest: 50.3%. Stockfish's first choice is 7. e3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White'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. “Queen's Gambit Declined: Knight Defense, Alekhine Gambit (D37)”. Lichess data as of 10 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/queens-gambit-declined-knight-defense-alekhine-gambit