Alekhine Variation, Sicilian
Alekhine Variation
Definition
The term “Alekhine Variation” most commonly denotes the Alekhine–Chatard Attack in the French Defence:
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4!?
White thrusts the h-pawn to h4 with aggressive intentions of ripping open Black’s kingside. Though there are other lines sometimes called “Alekhine Variation” (e.g., 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bf4 in the Queen’s Gambit, or 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bg5 in the Slav), the French version is by far the best-known and will be the focus here.
Typical Ideas & Usage
- Pawn Storm: After 6.h4 White seeks h4–h5 to pry open h- and g-files. Black must decide whether to castle kingside (risking direct assault), delay castling, or head to the queenside.
- Piece Activity: White’s queen often swings to g4 or h5, piling pressure on e6 and g7. Knights jump to f3 and g5 while the dark-squared bishop eyes d3–xh7 sacrifices.
- Central Tension: The advanced e5-pawn cramps Black. If Black counters with …c5 or …f6, new weaknesses appear around d6 or e6.
- Black’s Resources: The main antidote 6…Bxg5 7.hxg5 and only then 7…Qxg5 or 7…c5 avoids being steam-rolled but concedes an open h-file.
Strategic & Historical Significance
Alexander Alekhine (4th World Champion) unleashed the idea in Paris simultaneous exhibitions during the 1920s, and French master Georges Chatard analyzed it deeply, hence the double name. The line embodies the romantic, sacrificial style Alekhine was famous for, contrasting sharply with the solid positional reputation of the French Defence.
Although engines nowadays show that accurate defence keeps Black afloat, the variation remains a feared practical weapon in club play because one slip can lead to a swift mating attack.
Illustrative Game
Alekhine – Nimzowitsch, Bled 1931 (friendly analysis game) reached a classic attacking motif:
Interesting Facts
- Alekhine reportedly called 6.h4 “an injection of morphine; Black dozes off at his own peril.”
- The attack inspired many later pawn-storm ideas, foreshadowing modern systems like the Keres Attack in the Sicilian Scheveningen.
- Grandmaster Simon Williams (“the Ginger GM”) revived the line in the 2010s, scoring several miniature wins on stream.
Sicilian Defence
Definition
The Sicilian Defence begins with 1. e4 c5. Black immediately contests the centre from the flank, aiming for an unbalanced position with chances for counter-attack on the queenside and semi-open c-file.
Major Branches
- Open Sicilians (2.Nf3 d6/…Nc6 then 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4) – include the Najdorf, Dragon, Scheveningen, Classical and Sveshnikov.
- Closed Sicilians (2.Nc3 or 3.g3 setups) – White keeps the tension, often launching a kingside pawn-storm.
- Anti-Sicilians – Rossolimo (3.Bb5+), Alapin (2.c3), Grand Prix (2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4) and others, chosen to sidestep reams of Najdorf theory.
Strategic Themes
- Imbalance of Pawn Structures: White usually gets a central pawn majority (e & d files) while Black gains a queenside majority and the semi-open c-file.
- Tempo vs. Structure: Black concedes a tempo by moving the c-pawn twice (c7–c5 then …cxd4) but in return obtains long-term structural and dynamic advantages.
- Opposite-Side Castling: Particularly in the Dragon, Najdorf and Velimirovic Attack, both sides castle on opposite wings leading to fiery pawn races.
- Piece Activity & Outposts: The d5-square (for White) and d4 (for Black) are critical outposts. Knights, bishops and even rooks can pivot around these squares.
Historical Significance
First recorded in Giulio Polerio’s manuscripts (c. 1594), the Sicilian remained a sideline until the 20th century. After World War II, players like Miguel Najdorf, Efim Geller, and later Bobby Fischer adopted it as a main weapon, proving its viability at world-championship level. Today, more than 25 % of master-level games that start with 1.e4 feature the Sicilian.
Iconic Games & Positions
- Fischer – Spassky, World Championship 1972, Game 6: Fischer stunned Spassky with the Sicilian as White (en route via 1.c4) and demonstrated the power of the Sveshnikov-style central bind.
- Kasparov – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999: A Najdorf immortal where Kasparov sacrificed material for a king hunt ending with the startling 24.Rxd4!!.
- Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, 1997: The machine adopted the Open Sicilian as Black, showing the opening’s universal appeal—even to silicon.
Interesting Facts
- The Najdorf (5…a6) is named after Argentine-Polish GM Miguel Najdorf, who popularized the move in the 1940s. Najdorf once quipped, “One day they will build a monument to 5…a6!”
- In online blitz, the Hyper-Accelerated Dragon (2.Nf3 g6) is a favorite bullet choice because Black skips …d6 and reaches a fianchetto setup in record time.
- The Sicilian has the largest ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) coverage of any single defence, spanning codes B20–B99.
- Statistics show that the Sicilian yields the highest Black winning percentage among major replies to 1.e4 at master level.
Sample Miniature
A 13-move crush demonstrating typical Sicilian tactics: