Alpha-amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same

A method of improving wash performance of a parent alpha-amylase polypeptide, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) substituting and/or deleting two, three or four positions in the parent alpha-amylase having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:
• 13 or SEQ ID NO:
• 14, or having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, wherein said positions correspond to positions R181, G182, D183, and G184 of SEQ ID NO:
• 13 or SEQ ID NO:
• 14;
• and
• b) mutating one or more positions corresponding to positions
• H1, T5, G7, Q11, N16, V17, Q32, A37, T40, P45, W48, G50, T51, N54, V56, K72, R87, Q98, M105, G109, F113, R116, Q118, Q125, G133, T134, G142, G149, T165, R171, Q172, L173, A174, G184, A186, E190, T193, N195, A204, V206, P211, I214, V215, L217, L219, A225, L235, V238, K242, S244, M246, M248, L250, G255, Q256, A263, V264, Y267, K269, N270, G273, S280, T285, M286, V291, N295, Q299, R320, H321, S323, H324, V326, F328, T334, D337, Q345, G346, G348, T355, S376, D377, D379, Y382, S383, Q385, K391, K393, Q395, A420, G423, T444, A445, Q449, T459, P473, C474, and K484 of SEQ ID NO:
• 13;
• or
• H1, A37, T40, N54, V56, A60, K72, G109, F113, R116, N125, F133, T134, T165, Q172, L173, A174, G184, A186, E190, N195, G196, A204, V206, A225, L228, K242, S244, G255, A265, K269, S280, N295, R320, H321, S323, V326, K391, I405, A421, A422, A428, and G448 of SEQ ID NO:
• 14,
• wherein the resulting alpha-amylase variant has at least 85%, but less than 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
• 4 or SEQ ID NO:
• 7, and wherein said variant has alpha-amylase activity and improved wash performance compared to said parent polypeptide.