The Brooklyn Defence is the startling retreat 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8. Black appears to give White three tempi, but the practical question is whether White can turn space into something concrete before Black rebuilds and hits the centre.
Choose the kind of position you want, then jump to the diagram or replay that matches your plan.
Every board has an example sequence and a practice button. The FENs were calculated from the listed sequences with python-chess.
Black retreats the knight all the way home. White has gained space, but Black asks whether White can prove that the extra tempi matter before Black rebuilds with ...d6, ...Bg4, ...Nf6 or ...d5.
Example sequence: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8
This is one of the most recognisable Brooklyn structures: Black lures kingside pawns forward, then tries to hit the centre and dark squares before White turns space into an attack.
Example sequence: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.g4 Bg6
White can use the gained space immediately with e5-e6 and g2-g4. Black accepts structural damage only if the centre and king can be held together.
Example sequence: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.e6 fxe6 7.g4
Instead of the bishop sortie, Black may use pawns to disturb White's natural development. The position is playable but sharp: White should not drift while Black gains kingside space.
Example sequence: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 h6 5.Be2 g5
White releases the centre early. Black no longer looks ridiculous if the knight returns to f6 and the pawn structure becomes a reversed, slightly offbeat open-game setup.
Example sequence: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.d4 d6 4.exd6 cxd6 5.Nf3 Nf6
Black can also switch into a direct central contest with ...d5. White keeps space, but Black has a clear target and may later develop the g8-knight through e7 or f6.
Example sequence: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.d4 d5 4.c4 dxc4 5.Bxc4 e6
A modern practical plan is to build a compact shell with ...c6, ...Bf5 and later ...dxe5 or ...Nf6. It is less romantic than old Brooklyn chaos but harder to refute over the board.
Example sequence: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 c6 5.h3 Bf5
Black can abandon the mystery and play for a normal developing position. White has easier space, but Black can challenge e5 and c5 without leaving the knight on g8 forever.
Example sequence: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Qf3 Ngf6
White expands with h3 and g4, or even e6, while Black tries to make those pawns into targets. Start with the bishop-poke and direct e6 diagrams.
Black avoids immediate romance and builds with ...d6, ...c6, ...Bf5 and ...Nf6. The Fressinet-Carlsen replay is the practical model here.
Black challenges the centre directly after returning the knight home. Use this branch when you want clear pawn tension instead of a pure waiting strategy.
Load one of the supplied model games. The replay data uses only the required seven PGN tags and keeps the exact supplied moves.
Extra tempi matter only if they become development, central control or an attack. Use the starting diagram and play concrete moves.
The retreat to g8 is already a concession. Black must hit e5, d4 or the advanced kingside pawns before White consolidates.
The h-pawn and g-pawn chases can look fun, but the king still needs a safe square. Use the practice buttons to test the consequences.
The Alekhine Defense Brooklyn Defence is the rare line 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8, where Black retreats the knight back to its original square instead of the normal 2...Nd5. Start with the Brooklyn Defence starting point diagram and use the practice button to feel how much space White has really gained.
The name Brooklyn Defence is associated with GM Joel Benjamin, who used the name in honour of his hometown and treated it as a pet line. Use the page replay lab to see how the idea moved from curiosity into practical tournament games.
The Brooklyn Defence is unusual rather than refuted: Black gives White extra tempi but hopes the broad centre becomes a target after ...d6, ...d5, ...Bg4 or ...c6. Test the Brooklyn Defence starting point diagram against the computer before deciding whether White's advantage is easy.
Black retreats to g8 to avoid the usual Alekhine knight chase and invite White to overextend while Black rebuilds from a compact position. Compare the bishop-poke kingside chase and the Carlsen-style solid shell diagrams for two different ways Black tries to justify it.
No, 2...Nd5 is the normal Alekhine move and far more established, while 2...Ng8 is a surprise weapon. Use the page map near the bottom to return to the main Alekhine Defense guide after studying this rare branch.
White normally claims space with d4, develops quickly with Nf3 or Nc3, and chooses whether to attack with h3-g4 or keep a stable centre. Use the bishop-poke kingside chase diagram to practise the most forcing setup.
3.d4 is the most natural response because White has gained time and should occupy the centre before Black returns to normal development. Use the Brooklyn Defence starting point diagram and play the position as White to practise this central approach.
Black usually challenges the centre with ...d6, then develops by ...Bg4, ...Nf6, ...c6, ...Bf5 or ...dxe5 depending on White's setup. Use the adviser to choose the plan that matches your risk tolerance.
4.Nf3 Bg4 pins or annoys the knight and tempts White into h3 and g4, creating targets around the king. Use the bishop-poke kingside chase diagram to practise both the attacking and defensive decisions.
White plays h3 and g4 to chase the bishop and use the extra tempi Black gave with ...Ng8. The bishop-poke kingside chase diagram shows the reward and the danger: White gains space but also creates hooks for Black.
Yes, g2-g4 gains time but weakens f4, h4 and the king's shelter if White castles kingside later. Use the bishop-poke kingside chase practice button to test whether White can keep control after gaining space.
The e5-e6 punch tries to damage Black's structure before Black finishes development. Use the direct e6 punch diagram to practise the tactical moment rather than playing automatically.
Black can survive if the centre is controlled and the king is not left stuck, but passive play is dangerous. Replay the Kotronias game from the sharp kingside group to see how fast the attack can grow.
The ...h6 and ...g5 setup is Black's way of fighting for kingside space instead of simply accepting White's pawn storm. Use the ...h6 and ...g5 counter-chase diagram to practise whether White should open the centre or keep building.
...Bg4 is more direct against Nf3, while ...h6 prepares a pawn-led counter-chase. Use the Brooklyn Adviser to pick between the bishop-poke and counter-chase plans.
After exd6, Black often recaptures with ...cxd6 and returns to a more normal development scheme. Use the exchange structure with ...cxd6 diagram to practise the quieter version of the Brooklyn.
The Exchange structure gives White a clean space edge but also releases some central tension, which helps Black develop. Use the Exchange structure diagram before loading the Emms model game in the replay lab.
Yes, Black can later play ...d5 and challenge the centre directly, especially if White has not punished the lost time. Use the delayed ...d5 structure diagram to practise that central fight.
The delayed ...d5 structure tries to turn the Brooklyn into a direct central battle rather than a pure tempo-loss opening. Use the delayed ...d5 diagram and replay the Rogic-Loncar model game for a Black win in that structure.
The Carlsen-style solid shell uses ...c6, ...Bf5 and careful central exchanges rather than wild early tactics. Use the Carlsen-style solid shell diagram and the Fressinet-Carlsen replay to study the modern practical approach.
Yes, the supplied replay set includes Fressinet-Carlsen from the 2014 World Blitz, where Black used 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Ng8 and won. Load the Fressinet-Carlsen game in the replay lab after reviewing the Carlsen-style solid shell diagram.
It is especially attractive in blitz and rapid because the position is rare and White may burn time proving an advantage. Use the replay lab to compare fast-game examples with slower tournament games.
It has appeared in classical and team events, but it requires confidence because Black starts with a deliberate loss of time. Use the Exchange structure and delayed ...d5 diagrams for the most classical-friendly plans.
White should avoid drifting with random pawn moves after gaining space; Black wants White to overextend without completing development. Use the common mistakes section and then practise the direct e6 punch diagram.
Black should avoid passive shuffling after ...Ng8; the retreat only makes sense if Black later hits the centre or provokes targets. Use the adviser and choose either bishop-poke, counter-chase, solid shell or delayed ...d5.
White may castle kingside in quieter structures or queenside in sharp h3-g4 lines, but the choice depends on whether the g-pawn has moved. Use the bishop-poke kingside chase diagram to practise the timing.
Black often castles kingside after stabilising the centre, but in some sharp lines the king may stay flexible. Check the replay lab because the model games show several different king-safety choices.
No, but 3...d6 is the most thematic because it hits e5 and prepares development. Use the branch map to compare it with the delayed ...d5 structure.
...Nf6 brings the knight back once White's centre has been defined, often after ...d6 or ...dxe5. Use the Exchange structure and early exchange diagrams to see when the return to f6 is comfortable.
...dxe5 reduces White's space and lets Black develop into a more normal position with ...Nd7 and ...Ngf6. Use the early exchange and ...Nd7 setup diagram to practise this calmer defensive method.
It is solid if Black completes development before White's lead in space becomes an attack. Use the early exchange and ...Nd7 setup practice button to test whether White can keep the initiative.
Yes, f4 supports the e5 pawn and can lead to attacking chances, but it also fixes targets on the dark squares. Replay the Wilder-Bricard game from the replay lab for a direct attacking example.
Yes, c4 gains central space and can lead to delayed ...d5 structures or open queenside play. Use the delayed ...d5 diagram to practise the resulting pawn tension.
Black can transpose into French-like, Scandinavian-like or Alekhine-like structures depending on ...d6, ...d5 and ...dxe5. Use the branch map to choose the structure rather than memorising only move numbers.
It is rare compared with the normal Alekhine move 2...Nd5, which is why it can be a useful surprise. Use the replay selector to see real games instead of treating it as a joke line.
It is not the easiest beginner defence because Black voluntarily falls behind in development and must understand counterplay. Beginners should use the practice buttons on the solid shell and Exchange structure diagrams first.
It can suit creative counterpunchers who enjoy provoking White's pawns and then hitting the centre. Use the bishop-poke kingside chase and direct e6 punch diagrams to study the sharpest version.
The most practical choice is usually a compact setup with ...d6, ...c6, ...Bf5 and timely ...dxe5, because it reduces the risk of being crushed immediately. Start with the Carlsen-style solid shell diagram.
Start with Fressinet-Carlsen if you want a modern practical win, then compare Rogic-Loncar for a delayed ...d5 structure. Use the replay lab's grouped selector to load those games.
Start with Kotronias-Sandipan for a direct kingside attack or Grandelius-Fries Nielsen for a modern central squeeze. Use the replay lab and then practise the matching diagram.
First review the starting point, bishop-poke and solid shell diagrams, then load one White win and one Black win from the replay lab. Finish by using the adviser to pick a plan for your own games.
Use each diagram's Play vs Computer button and try to explain your first three moves before moving. The practice buttons under the example sequences are the fastest test.
No, it does not refute 2.e5; it changes the psychological and structural question. Use the Brooklyn Defence starting point diagram to practise proving White's space advantage instead of assuming it.
Add it only as a surprise weapon after you understand the normal Alekhine Defence, because the Brooklyn gives White space and demands accurate counterplay. Use the study path and replay lab before using it in rated games.
Use this Brooklyn page as a surprise-line lab, then return to the main Alekhine Defense page for the normal 2...Nd5 family.
Back to the Alekhine Defense guide