Alekhine: Scandinavian, Exchange, 4.Bc4 Nb6
Alekhine’s Defence
Definition
A hyper-modern opening that begins 1. e4 Nf6. Black tempts White’s e-pawn to advance, planning to undermine the over-stretched centre later with pawn breaks and piece pressure. It is named after the fourth World Champion, Alexander Alekhine, who introduced it to top-level play in the early 1920s.
Typical Move Order
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 – the Modern Main Line. Other major branches include the Four Pawns Attack (3. c4), the Exchange Variation (3. exd6), and the Chase Variation (3. e5 Nd5 4. c4).
Strategic Themes
- Provocation: Black allows White to occupy the centre, then targets it with …d6, …c5, and piece play.
- Piece Activity over Pawn Structure: Knights often hop to b6 / d7, bishops point at the pawn chain, and the queen may appear early on b6 or a5.
- Imbalance: The opening frequently leads to asymmetrical structures that keep winning chances for both sides.
Historical Notes
Alekhine first tried the line in 1921 (Alekhine–Endre Steiner, Budapest) and later used it in the 1922 London tournament, stunning contemporaries with the idea of allowing White’s pawns to march. Though never mainstream at world-championship level, it has been a favourite surprise weapon for players such as Fischer, Korchnoi, Bagirov, and more recently, Vachier-Lagrave and Nakamura.
Illustrative Game
Fischer – Benko, New York 1963: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. Be2 0-0 and Fischer gradually out-played his opponent in a complex middlegame.
Interesting Facts
- Anand defeated Kasparov with the Alekhine during the 1995 PCA Championship blitz playoff—one of the few times Kasparov lost against it.
- Because the structure often becomes unbalanced quickly, modern engines rate some historically “risky” lines much more highly than earlier books did, revitalising the opening for computer-assisted preparation.
Scandinavian Defence (Centre-Counter)
Definition
An opening that starts 1. e4 d5. Black immediately challenges the e-pawn, accepting a slightly passive queen if 2. exd5 Qxd5 is played, or aiming for dynamic piece play after 2…Nf6.
Main Variations
- 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 – the Classical (or Main-Line) Scandinavian.
- 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 – the Modern Scandinavian, often entering the 4.Bc4 Nb6 system (see below).
- 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 and 3…Qd8 – “Patzer” and “Modern” queen retreats that avoid the Qa5 pin.
- Icelandic (Palmeiro) Gambit: 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 e6!?
Strategic Ideas
- Early Queen Development: Black’s queen emerges on move two or three; safe squares (a5, d6, d8) are essential.
- Piece Activity: Knights often land on f6 and c6; bishops target c2 or h2 after …Bg4 or …Bf5.
- Sound but Slightly Passive: If Black equalises, the symmetrical pawn structure can make winning difficult.
Historical Significance
The Scandinavian is one of the oldest recorded openings, appearing in the 1475 Lucena manuscripts. It regained popularity in the 1990s thanks to GM Sergei Tiviakov, who racked up a +22 =24 –2 lifetime score with it.
Example Game
Carlsen – Karjakin, Wijk aan Zee 2010: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. c4 Nb6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Rc1 0-0, an instructive draw showing the robustness of the Modern line.
Trivia
- GM Curt Hansen scored 8½/10 with the Scandinavian at the 1996 Olympiad.
- The opening is popular at club level because it cuts down White’s theoretical choices compared with the Sicilian or French.
Exchange Variation (General Concept)
Definition
An “Exchange Variation” is any line in which one player voluntarily trades a central pawn (often on d- or e-file) for a counterpart of equal value early in the opening, simplifying the structure and altering typical plans. Examples include the Ruy Lopez Exchange (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6), French Exchange (1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5), Queen’s Gambit Exchange (1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. cxd5 exd5), and Alekhine’s Exchange (1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. exd6).
Why Players Choose It
- Simplification: Reduces tension and theory, useful against sharper opponents.
- Structural Gains: May inflict doubled pawns (Ruy Lopez), isolate pawns (Alekhine), or create minority-attack targets (QGD).
- Psychology: Surprises opponents expecting main-line complications.
Historical & Strategic Significance
The Exchange label does not automatically imply a drawish game—many classic attacking victories grew from simplified structures. For instance, Fischer’s win in Game 1 of the 1972 World Championship started with the Ruy Lopez Exchange, and Botvinnik’s minority-attack classics arose from the QGD Exchange.
Illustrative Example
Spassky – Fischer, Reykjavík 1972 (Game 1): 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. 0-0 f6 and later Fischer’s infamous 29…Bxh2?? turned a solid position into a loss. The game highlighted how “quiet” Exchange lines can hide deep tactical resources.
Fun Fact
The French Exchange was once dubbed “the grandmasters’ draw,” but in 1953 David Bronstein used it to defeat Najdorf in a fierce kingside attack—proving reputations can be misleading.
4.Bc4 Nb6 Variation (Modern Scandinavian)
Definition & Move Order
A critical sub-line of the Scandinavian Defence: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Bc4 Nb6. White develops the bishop to c4, eyeing f7; Black replies …Nb6, hitting the bishop and placing the knight on a secure square while keeping central influence.
Strategic Ideas
- White aims for rapid development (Nf3, 0-0, Re1) and pressure on the e- and f-files.
- Black’s …Nb6 prepares …Nc6 and sometimes …e5, challenging the centre.
- The line often transposes to structures resembling the Italian Game but with colours reversed centre control.
Theoretical Status
Considered one of the most reliable answers to 4.Bc4. Engine analysis shows equality with accurate play, but unprepared opponents can drift into trouble if they neglect development (e.g., delaying …g6 or …Bf5).
Representative Game
Mamedyarov – Carlsen, Tata Steel 2019: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. Bc4 Nb6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bf5 7. 0-0 e6 8. Re1 Be7 9. c3 0-0. Carlsen neutralised White’s pressure and won in the endgame.
Practical Tips
- For White: Consider the Portuguese Attack set-up with Qf3 and Nge2 if Black delays …g6.
- For Black: Do not hurry with …e5 until development is complete; the loose king and bishop pair can become targets on the half-open e-file.
Trivia
GM Sergei Tiviakov, a lifelong Scandinavian devotee, has faced 4.Bc4 over 80 times and still scores well above 60 % with the simple reply …Nb6, demonstrating the line’s durability.