Alekhine’s Defence
Alekhine’s Defence
Definition
The Alekhine’s Defence is a hyper-modern response to 1. e4 in which Black immediately attacks White’s centre with a knight rather than occupying the centre himself. The opening begins with the moves:
1… Nf6
after White’s initial 1. e4. The full starting position therefore arises after 1. e4 Nf6, and the critical continuation 2. e5 Nd5 illustrates the core idea: Black invites White to create an ambitious pawn centre (usually with d4 and c4) which he then targets from a distance.
Typical Move Order
The most common sequence is:
- e4 Nf6
- e5 Nd5
- d4 d6
- Nf3 g6
- c4 Nb6
From here several main branches emerge, most famously the Four-Pawn Attack (4. c4), the Modern Variation (4. Nf3 g6), and the Exchange Variation (3. exd6).
Strategic Ideas
- Hyper-modern concept: Black provokes an over-extended centre, then undermines it with pawn breaks like …d6, …dxe5, …c5, or …e6.
- Piece activity over pawn structure: Black’s knights often dance to b6 or b4, bishops pressure the long diagonals, and the queen can appear on b6 early.
- Dynamic imbalance: White enjoys space and a cramping centre; Black seeks counterplay against those very pawns. Precise play is required from both sides.
Historical Background
Named after the fourth World Champion Alexander Alekhine, who introduced it to elite practice in 1921 against Endre Steiner at Budapest. Alekhine employed the defence sporadically—often as a surprise weapon—most notably in the 1927 World Championship match versus Capablanca.
Notable Variations
- Four-Pawn Attack: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4. Fearsome for Black; he relies on accurate strikes with …dxe5 and …c5.
- Modern (or Fianchetto) Variation: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6. Solid and popular today.
- Exchange Variation: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. exd6 cxd6. Leads to an IQP or hanging-pawn structure.
- Two-Pawn Attack: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 exd6.
- Balogh Variation: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8!? A rare retreat, aiming for psychological impact.
Illustrative Example
The following position arises from the Modern Variation and captures many recurring themes—pressure on d4, fianchettoed bishop, and White’s broad centre.
Famous Games
- Fischer – Benko, U.S. Championship 1963–64. Fischer unleashed the Four-Pawn Attack, eventually crashing through on the kingside while Benko’s counterplay arrived too late.
- Karpov – Timman, Tilburg 1982. Karpov demonstrated the positional squeeze available to White in the Exchange Variation, slowly eroding Black’s minor-piece activity.
- Alekhine – Endre Steiner, Budapest 1921. The debut game: Alekhine, playing Black, sacrificed a pawn for rapid development and won convincingly, instantly giving his name to the defence.
Common Plans for Each Side
- White:
- Maintain the central pawns on e5 and d4.
- Castle kingside early; deploy pieces behind the pawn phalanx.
- Advance f2–f4 in many lines to support e5.
- Be alert to over-extension—especially the weakness of the d4 square once pawns are exchanged.
- Black:
- Strike at the centre with …d6, …c5, or …e6 when tactically justified.
- Fianchetto the kingside bishop to g7 to bear down on the long diagonal.
- Target White’s e5 pawn with manoeuvres like …Nd5-f4 or …Bc8-g4-h5.
- Stay flexible—sometimes an early queen sortie to b6, a knight leap to b4, or castling queenside are viable.
Strategic & Historical Significance
Unlike more classical replies (e.g., 1…e5 or 1…c5), the Alekhine’s Defence embodies hyper-modernism: controlling, not occupying, the centre. Its introduction in the 1920s paralleled the rise of Réti and Nimzowitsch’s ideas, challenging dogmas from the Steinitz and Lasker eras and foreshadowing many modern openings that allow—or even encourage—an opponent’s space advantage.
The defence periodically enters top-level repertoires as a surprise weapon. Grandmasters such as Vassily Ivanchuk, Lev Alburt, Vladimir Bagirov, and more recently Hikaru Nakamura have all employed it successfully.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- A rumor claims Alekhine showed the move 1…Nf6 to Capablanca in a Paris café, only to be told it was “anti-positional.” Alekhine allegedly replied: “Perhaps, but it will win.”
- World Champions Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen both tried the defence as Black in serious competition—even though their overall repertoires are very different—underscoring its enduring surprise value.
- Lev Alburt, three-time U.S. Champion, wrote an entire book focusing only on the Alekhine, calling it “a fighting choice for the ambitious player.”
- Statistically, the opening scores roughly 49 % for White and 51 % for Black in blitz games on major servers, indicating its double-edged nature.
Common Pitfalls
- For White: Premature pawn advances like 5. d5?! in the Four-Pawn Attack can leave the e5 pawn isolated and vulnerable to tactics based on …Bg7xb2 and …Qa5+.
- For Black: Neglecting development with moves such as …h6 or repeated knight moves can allow White to cement his centre and launch a kingside pawn storm.
When to Use the Alekhine’s Defence
Choose it when you:
- Want an unbalanced struggle and are comfortable with cramped positions in the early middlegame.
- Enjoy deep theoretical lines but also appreciate the chance to sidestep mainline theory after move 3 (since many White players dislike facing it).
- Have prepared specific counter-attacking resources against the Four-Pawn Attack.
Conclusion
The Alekhine’s Defence remains a provocative, fighting response to 1. e4. It challenges conventional wisdom, demands accurate calculation, and offers both sides ample room for creativity. Whether employed as a primary weapon or an occasional surprise, it continues to enrich chess praxis more than a century after Alexander Alekhine first brandished it on the grandmaster stage.