Alekhine's Defense for Black

1.e4 Nf6

Alekhine's Defense is an invitation: after e4 you play Nf6 at once and attack the pawn. White may chase the knight with e5 and build a big pawn centre with d4, c4 and even f4 – exactly what you want to provoke. After Nd5 and Nb6 your knight stands a little offside, but with d6 you attack the centre straight away, and every far-advanced white pawn can become a weakness later. This course is for you if, as Black, you don't like the beaten track and enjoy unbalanced positions. In almost nine games out of ten White answers e5; after that the main roads are the Modern Variation with Nf3, against which you play g6, the Exchange Variation with exd6 and cxd6, the Four Pawns Attack with f4, and the advance c4 with c5. Against the quieter Nc3 you answer d5. In most main lines Stockfish sees White slightly ahead, as usual after White's first move – but the positions are lively, and White's mistakes are punished quickly.

Lure the white pawns forward, then attack them: d6 against e5, later Nc6, Bg4 and Bg7 against d4.
After exd6 you recapture with cxd6: you get a half-open c-file and a solid structure with the bishop on g7.
When White drives the knight from b6 with c5, the square d5 or c4 is often a wonderful outpost for you.
The bishop on g4 pins the knight on f3 – once d4 is no longer covered well enough, White often loses the pawn there.
In the Four Pawns Attack the lever f6 is your freeing blow against the pawn on e5.
Always watch the square f7: a bishop on b3 or c4 and a knight on g5 aim right there – e6 closes the diagonal.