Alekhine's – Chess term and openings
Alekhine's (general usage)
Definition
In chess, “Alekhine’s” is a possessive shorthand referencing the fourth World Champion, Alexander Alekhine (1892–1946). It most commonly appears in the names of concepts or openings he popularized or is strongly associated with, such as Alekhine’s Defense and Alekhine’s Gun.
Usage
Players and writers use “Alekhine’s” as a prefix to indicate a direct connection to Alekhine’s style, ideas, or historical practice. For example, “Alekhine’s Defense” refers to 1...Nf6 against 1. e4, and “Alekhine’s Gun” refers to a specific heavy-piece battery formation.
Historical significance
Alekhine was renowned for deep calculation and dynamic, often provocative, play. Many lines and motifs bearing his name reflect hypermodern principles: tempting the opponent to occupy the center and then attacking it, or arranging powerful piece configurations to increase pressure on a key file or square.
Related terms
- Alekhine's Defense (also spelled “Alekhine’s Defence”): 1...Nf6 against 1. e4.
- Alekhine's Gun: A triple battery with two rooks in front and the queen behind on the same file.
- Chatard–Alekhine Attack in the French Defense (also called Alekhine–Chatard): An aggressive gambit line after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4!?
Interesting facts
- Alekhine held the World Championship title in 1927–1935 and 1937–1946.
- His name is attached both to a hypermodern opening (Alekhine’s Defense) and a tactical heavy-piece formation (Alekhine’s Gun), showcasing the breadth of his influence.
Alekhine's Defense
Definition
A hypermodern response to 1. e4: 1...Nf6. Black invites White to advance central pawns (often to e5 and d4), with the plan to undermine and counterattack the overextended center later.
How it is used
- Black provokes space gains: after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5, White typically builds a big center with d4, c4, and sometimes f4.
- Black targets the pawn chain with ...d6, ...c5, ...g6, and timely breaks like ...dxe5 or ...f6 to chip away at e5 and d4.
- Typical piece placement for Black includes ...g6, ...Bg7, ...0-0, ...d6, and pressure on c4/d4/e5 squares; knights often orbit via b6/d7/f8–g6.
- White chooses between stable space (Exchange lines with exd6), maximum expansion (Four Pawns Attack), or positional lines (Modern Variation with Be2, 0-0).
Main variations and ideas
- Four Pawns Attack: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4. White grabs space with e5–d4–c4–f4; Black counters with ...dxe5, ...c5, and piece pressure.
- Exchange Variation: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6. White tames the position and aims for a small pull; Black seeks activity and pawn breaks.
- Modern Variation: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6. Black fianchettoes and hits the center from afar.
- Chase Variation: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5. White chases the knight and gains space on the queenside; Black aims for counterplay with ...d6 and ...N6d7–c5.
Example line
Four Pawns Attack sample:
Strategic and historical notes
- Strategic theme: Provoke, then undermine. Black’s success depends on timely counterbreaks against White’s central wedge.
- Historical origins: First introduced by Alexander Alekhine in Budapest 1921 (notably against Endre Steiner and Fritz Sämisch), scoring impressive results and establishing the opening’s credibility.
- ECO codes: B02–B05.
- Championed by practitioners such as GM Lev Alburt, who used it as a fighting weapon against 1. e4.
Practical tips
- For Black: Don’t drift into passivity; if you allow White a stable space advantage without counterplay, you’ll suffer. Time the breaks ...c5, ...dxe5, and ...f6 carefully.
- For White: Avoid overextension without development. Consolidate your center with accurate piece placement (Nc3, Nf3, Be3/Bd3, 0-0) and be ready for central trades that open files on your terms.
Famous games to study
- Alekhine vs. Endre Steiner, Budapest 1921 — one of the earliest showcases of Black’s provocative idea.
- Model games by Lev Alburt in the 1980s–1990s, illustrating modern counterattacking plans against the Four Pawns Attack.
Alekhine's Gun
Definition
A heavy-piece battery with two rooks stacked on a file and the queen placed behind them on the same file (from the attacker’s point of view), forming a powerful triple battery aimed at breaking through a critical point in the opponent’s position.
How it is used
- Build control over an open or half-open file, often doubling rooks first, then bringing the queen behind them.
- Fix a target (a backward pawn, a pinned piece, or a constrained square) on that file and increase pressure until it collapses.
- Coordinate with minor pieces to restrict the opponent’s defensive resources and prevent counterplay.
Strategic significance
- Maximizes pressure along a single file and often compels material concessions or decisive entry on the 7th or 8th rank.
- Requires a stable king and good piece coordination; otherwise, the slow buildup can be punished by counterplay on the wings or center.
Example position
White has formed Alekhine’s Gun on the d-file, training fire on Black’s d6–d7 complex:
Here White’s queen on d1 sits behind rooks on d2 and d3, aiming at d6/d7/d8. Black is tied down, and a well-timed breakthrough (e.g., c3–c4 or Bb5 to increase pressure) can be decisive.
Famous reference
The term is associated with Alekhine’s victory over Aron Nimzowitsch (San Remo, 1930), where Alekhine tripled heavy pieces on the c-file and broke through. The memorable formation led later writers to dub the setup “Alekhine’s Gun.”
Practical tips
- Before assembling the gun, eliminate counterplay and secure your king. You’ll often need several preparatory moves.
- Target a fixed weakness (backward pawn on a half-open file, or a pinned defender). Without a fixed target, the gun can be overkill and time-consuming.
- Against the gun: challenge the file early with a rook, trade pieces to reduce pressure, or break the pawn structure in the center to force the attacker to divert resources.
Interesting facts
- Although iconic, it is relatively rare at top level because opponents strive to contest open files before such a setup becomes possible.
- The concept is functionally similar to other triple batteries, but the defining feature is “queen behind the two rooks” on the same file.