Alpha-amylase variants and polynucleotides encoding same

A method of improving wash performance of a parent polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:

• 13 or 14, or having at least 80% sequence identity thereto, said method comprising the steps of:
• a) a substitution and/or deletion of two, three or four positions in the parent alpha-amylase said positions corresponding to positions 181, G182, D183, and G184 of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
• 4;
• and
• b) an alteration at 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, W140, G142, G149, T165, W167, Q169, 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, N260, A263, V264, Y267, K269, N270, G273, S280, W284, T285, M286, F289, 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, G476, G477, and K484 of SEQ ID NO:
• 13;
• or H1, A37, T40, N54, V56, A60, K72, G109, F113, R116, N125, F133, T134, T165, Q169, Q172, L173, A174, G184, A186, E190, N195, G196, A204, V206, A225, L228, K242, S244, G255, N260, A265, K269, S280, W284, N295, S304, R320, H321, S323, V326, K391, 1405, A421, A422, A428, G448, D476, and G477 of SEQ ID NO:
• 14,
• wherein the variant has at least 80% but less than 100% sequence identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:
• 4 or 7, and wherein said variant has alpha-amylase activity and improved wash performance compared to said parent polypeptide.