Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation
Alekhine Defense: Brooklyn Variation
Definition
The Brooklyn Variation is a specific branch of the Alekhine Defense that arises after the moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4. Black’s early …Bg4 pin gives the line its identity and signals an attempt to provoke weaknesses in White’s kingside structure while pressuring the central e5-pawn. It falls under ECO code B02.
Typical Move Order
The most common sequence runs:
- e4 Nf6
- e5 Nd5
- d4 d6
- Nf3 Bg4 (Brooklyn Variation)
Alternative fourth-move choices for Black—such as 4…g6 (Modern), 4…c6 (Balogh), or 4…dxe5 (Exchange)—lead to entirely different plans, highlighting how distinctive the Brooklyn setup is.
Strategic Ideas
- For Black
- Use the pin on the knight at f3 to undermine White’s grip on e5.
- Prepare …dxe5 and …c5 to challenge the center at a moment when recaptures are awkward for White.
- Aim for flexible development—…e6, …Be7, and either short castling or, occasionally, an adventurous long castle.
- For White
- Decide quickly whether to break the pin with h3 (gaining space) or Be2/Bb5+ (developing smoothly).
- Maintain the strong e5-outpost while expanding with c4 and Nc3; a space-advantage middlegame is the carrot for enduring the pin.
- Watch out for tactical tricks connected with …Bxf3 followed by …dxe5.
Historical Significance
The variation earned the moniker “Brooklyn” because it was analyzed and employed by masters from Brooklyn, New York, in the early 20th century—most notably Abraham Kupchik and later Brooklyn-born U.S. Champion Bobby Fischer. Although Fischer usually preferred 4…g6, his early notebooks contained deep analysis of 4…Bg4, sparking renewed interest.
Despite never becoming mainstream at top Grandmaster level (due largely to the popularity of the more flexible Modern line), the Brooklyn Variation retains a cult following among club and correspondence players who relish its counter-punching character.
Example Game
The following miniature shows typical themes:
Key moments:
- Move 8 h3 forces the bishop to declare itself; Black keeps the pin with …Bh5.
- After 9 exd6 cxd6, the e-file opens, but Black’s compact pawn chain and bishop pair compensate for the weakened queenside.
- Both sides can now mobilize rooks (Re1 and …Re8) for a classic Alekhine struggle over central dark squares.
Notable Plans & Tactics
- Immediate central break: …dxe5 when the f3-knight is pinned and cannot recapture on e5.
- Poisoned pawn on g2: In some lines Black’s bishop lands on f3, queen goes to f6, and the g2-pawn becomes tactically loose.
- Cavalry reroute: Black’s Nd5–b6–d7–f8–g6 maneuver transfers the knight to a kingside outpost, reminiscent of the French Defense.
Statistical Snapshot
Modern databases show that after 4…Bg4, White scores roughly 55 % overall—slightly better than against the more fashionable 4…g6—yet the variation’s surprise value often compensates for its modest theoretical reputation.
Interesting Facts
- The line can transpose into the Classical French after 5.Be2 e6 6.O-O Be7 7.c4 Nb6 8.exd6 cxd6, illustrating how the Alekhine can morph into other openings.
- Grandmaster Nick de Firmian once joked that the variation is called “Brooklyn” because “you have to be tough to play it.”
- Engine evaluations swing wildly in sharper sidelines where White gambits the e-pawn; practical defense over the board is never trivial.
When to Use It
Choose the Brooklyn Variation if you:
- Enjoy unbalanced positions with long-term tension rather than immediate equality.
- Have prepared concrete antidotes to White’s h3 & Be2 setups.
- Prefer openings that surprise opponents who have studied only the mainline Modern Alekhine (4…g6).
Further Study Suggestions
- Replay Kupchik’s early games from the 1920s to see the variation’s classical roots.
- Analyze modern correspondence encounters where both sides wield engines; these games reveal the latest theoretical wrinkles.
- Study themes from related openings—especially the Classical French and Pirc—to understand pawn structures that often arise.