Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe
ECO B02 · Alekhine Defense
The Alekhine Defense: Mokele Mbembe (B02) is a chess opening in the Alekhine Defense family, played by Black. It arises after the moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4.
Moves: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ne4
About this opening
The Mokele Mbembe variation (2.e5 Ne4), named after a legendary creature, boldly places the knight on e4 rather than d5. The idea is to keep the knight active in the heart of the position and avoid the well-trodden paths of the Normal line. Eccentric and low on theory, it leaves White a space advantage but disorients an opponent ill-prepared for this unusual sortie.