Alekhine: Chase Variation

Alekhine Defense: Chase Variation

Definition

The Chase Variation is a sharp, space-gaining branch of the Alekhine Defense, arising after the moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5. White “chases” the black knight from f6 all the way to d5 and then b6, finally driving it once more with 4.c5. The full diagram after 4.c5 is shown below:

Typical Move Order

A common continuation illustrating the main ideas is

• White grabs massive central space with pawns on c5, d4, and e5. • Black relies on piece play and pressure against the over-extended center.

Strategic Themes

• Space vs. Flexibility: White’s advanced pawns cramp Black but may become targets.
• Dark-square Weaknesses: After pushing c4–c5, the d4 and b4 squares can be weak; Black often places a knight on c6 or b4 to exploit them.
• Piece Development: White must not fall behind; typical setups include Nc3, Nf3, Be2, 0-0, and sometimes a kingside pawn storm with f4.
• Pawn Breaks: …d6 and …e6 are Black’s thematic counter-blows, aiming at the e5 pawn and opening lines for the light-squared bishop.

Historical Background

The variation was experimented with in the 1920s, shortly after Alexander Alekhine popularised his eponymous defense. It reached prominence when Alekhine himself defeated Frederick Yates at Carlsbad 1923 using the Chase plan. In later decades grandmasters such as Viktor Korchnoi and Mikhail Tal revisited it, proving that despite its neglected reputation it can lead to rich, unbalanced play.

Illustrative Game

Alekhine – Yates, Carlsbad 1923

Alekhine’s pawns dominated the board; Yates could not break the central wedge, and White won after a queenside infiltration.

Modern Practice

• The Chase Variation is relatively rare in elite tournaments but is popular in club play as a surprise weapon.
• Computer engines evaluate the position as roughly equal with optimal play, but practical chances abound for both sides.
• Several correspondence and engine games show that Black can equalise with accurate pawn breaks, yet one slip often yields a lasting spatial bind for White.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The name “Chase” is literal: every white pawn move in the opening (e5, c4, c5) directly chases the same knight.
• Because the knight moves three times in the first four moves, inexperienced players sometimes believe Black has wasted time—yet theory shows the knight is quite safe and Black’s structure untouched.
• Viktor Korchnoi, a lifelong opponent of passive play, used the Chase Variation as White in his 1983 Kandidatenkampf against Vasily Smyslov to avoid Smyslov’s rock-solid 1…e5 repertoire.
• Some blitz aficionados on Chess.com jokingly call 4.c5 “the Space Invader” because the pawns resemble the alien formation from the classic arcade game.

When to Choose the Chase Variation

1. You enjoy clear spatial advantages and long-term strategic pressure.
2. You are willing to handle structural weaknesses (isolated or advanced pawns) in exchange for activity.
3. Your opponent is a specialist in the more theoretical Four-Pawn Attack (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4) and you want to avoid their preparation.

Key Takeaways

• The Chase Variation is an aggressive yet strategically double-edged approach against the Alekhine Defense.
• White’s success hinges on rapid development and making use of the extra space before Black strikes back with …d6 and …e6.
• Black should aim to undermine the pawn chain, occupy outposts on b4 and d5, and maintain piece activity.