Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...Nf6/2. e5/2...Ng8

Now leaving opening theory: This page represents a rare sideline. Before making new pages for following moves, please consider line notability.

Black retreats their knight from White's advancing pawn. A generous assessment is that Black may continue as in the main line Alekhine (...d6, ...Bg4 etc.) with the knowledge that White doesn't have the option to play c4 with tempo, and play to undermine White's centre. Of course, the trade off is that Black has undeveloped their only developed piece, and it will take a while to get it into the action again (perhaps to g6 or f5 via e7).

3. d4 is White's best move.

Grandmaster Joel Benjamin pioneered this line and gave it the soubriquet "Brookyln" for his home town.^[1] Reportedly, Alexander McDonnell (1798―1835) would sometimes employ 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8?! to induce White to overextend their centre.^[2]