Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation — Larsen-Haakert
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation
Definition
The Modern Variation of the Alekhine Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3. At this point Black postpones immediate confrontation with White’s center (as in the older Exchange Variation 4…dxe5) and instead chooses a more flexible set-up, most commonly 4…g6 or 4…Bg7. The idea is to allow White’s center to advance, then undermine it with timely pawn breaks …c5 and …dxe5.
Typical Move Orders
- Main line: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7
- Larsen set-up: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 (transposes to the Larsen-Haakert Variation covered below)
- Modern with …c6: 4…dxe5 5. Nxe5 c6 followed by …g6/…Bg7
Strategic Themes
• Provocation & Counter-attack: By allowing White to
build a powerful pawn center with e5 and d4, Black aims to provoke
over-extension. The later breaks …c5 and …dxe5 are intended to erode
the center, freeing Black’s pieces.
• Piece Play: The Modern Variation often produces
unbalanced positions where Black’s minor pieces gain active posts on b6,
c6, and g7, while White enjoys space and a potential pawn roller in the
center.
• Flexible Pawn Structure: Black keeps the c- and e-
pawns at home for a while, choosing the most opportune moment to challenge
the center.
Historical Notes
Named after the fourth World Champion Alexander Alekhine, the defense itself was introduced in 1921 (Alekhine–Endre Steiner, Budapest), but the Modern treatment with …g6 became popular only in the 1950s and 1960s when players like Vasja Pirc and later Viktor Korchnoi refined the plan. It remains a favorite of dynamic players such as Lev Alburt and Vassily Ivanchuk.
Illustrative Mini-Game
A short attacking game that shows Black’s typical counter-play:
Though messy, the game illustrates Black’s willingness to sacrifice pawns and even structural integrity in pursuit of active piece play.
Interesting Facts
- Because the variation often sidelines theory and enters complex middlegames quickly, it is a favorite surprise weapon at club level.
- GM Vassily Ivanchuk used the Modern Alekhine to defeat computers in the early 2000s, trusting his strategic understanding over brute calculation.
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Larsen-Haakert Variation
Definition
The Larsen-Haakert Variation is a concrete branch of the Modern Alekhine following: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 (the Larsen move) 5. h3 Bh5 (the Haakert retreat). Black pins the knight, then voluntarily keeps the bishop on h5 rather than exchanging it on f3. The sequence tests whether White will over-extend with g2-g4 or waste tempi chasing the dark-squared bishop.
How It Differs from Other Lines
- In many Alekhine lines Black is eager to trade on f3, doubling White’s pawns. In the Larsen-Haakert Variation, Black preserves the bishop, maintaining long-term pressure on d4 and the a1–h8 diagonal.
- White’s thematic reaction 6. g4 can gain space on the kingside but also weakens the dark squares and the f4-square in particular.
Strategic Ideas
• For Black: Delay the central break …dxe5 until the pin
on the f3-knight makes recapture awkward, or strike with …c5. The bishop
pair often becomes an asset once the center opens.
• For White: Decide between a direct challenge
(6. g4 Bg6 7. e6!?) or a slower plan with Be2, O-O and c4.
Controlling e6 and f5 squares limits the scope of Black’s bishops.
Canonical Move Orders
- 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4
- 5. h3 Bh5 6. g4 Bg6 7. c4 Nb6 8. exd6 exd6
- or 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3
Historical & Naming Background
• Bent Larsen (Denmark) popularized 4…Bg4 in the
1960s, adding venom to an opening previously considered passive.
• J. Haakert, a Dutch master-analyst, advocated the
follow-up 5…Bh5 in correspondence play during the 1970s, hence the joint
nomenclature.
• The line attained Grand-Master status when Korchnoi employed it against
Anatoly Karpov in their 1974 Candidates Final.
Model Game
The game Larsen–Korchnoi, Belgrade 1970 showcases Black’s dynamic bishop pair and the latent power of the …d6–d5 break, even after an apparently cramped opening.
Practical Tips
- If you are White, remember that the immediate 6. g4 gains space, but the quieter 6. Be2 keeps the structure intact and often transposes to a favorable Hedgehog-style position.
- For Black, an early …c5 can be timed to hit the d4 pawn while the f3-knight remains pinned. Patience is vital—exchanging on f3 too soon releases the tension.
- Endgames frequently favor Black thanks to the bishop pair and fewer structural weaknesses, so piece exchanges are rarely unwelcome.
Curiosities & Anecdotes
- GM Bent Larsen once remarked, “The bishop on h5 might look silly, but it watches the whole board.” His quip underscores the latent power of the long diagonal in this variation.
- Several early computer engines underestimated the Larsen-Haakert line, rating Black’s position as worse. Modern engines, given enough depth, now typically show equality or slight Black preference.