Alekhines Defense Buckley Attack
Alekhine’s Defense – Buckley Attack
Definition
The Buckley Attack is a sharp, unorthodox sideline for White in Alekhine’s Defense that arises after the moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. g4!? . Named after the American master and theoretician John Buckley, the idea is to hurl the g-pawn down the board to chase the f6-knight, seize space on the kingside, and drag Black into early hand-to-hand combat instead of the more positional struggles normally associated with Alekhine’s Defense.
Move-Order & Main Line
A typical continuation might run:
- e4 Nf6
- Nc3 d5
- g4!? Nxg4 (declining the pawn can also be played)
- h3 Nf6
- e5 Nfd7
- e6!?
White sacrifices a pawn (or sometimes two) in return for a lead in development, open lines on the kingside, and the possibility of trapping or chasing the black knight. Exact move orders vary; some players prefer 3. g4 without first allowing …d5 (i.e. 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g4!?), but 2…d5 is by far Black’s most common reply to 2. Nc3, so the Buckley is generally defined by the trio e4–Nc3–g4.
Strategic Themes
- King-side pawn storm – White commits to g2-g4-g5 very early, hoping to gain time by attacking the knight and to keep Black’s king in the center.
- Pawn sacrifice for initiative – If Black captures on g4, White leads in development and tries to prove compensation with rapid piece activity.
- Flexible center – Because White refrains from—or delays—the usual 3. e5, the central structure is less fixed than in the classical Alekhine Advance Variation. This can confuse an opponent who has memorized mainline theory but not rare sidelines.
- Psychological weapon – The early pawn thrust pulls the game off the beaten path on move 3 and can unsettle opponents expecting quieter play after 2. Nc3.
Typical Plans
- For White
- Follow up with g5 to harass the f6-knight.
- Push e4-e5 (sometimes e5-e6) once the knight is driven back, cracking open the center.
- Rapid development: Bf1-g2, Ng1-e2/g1-f3, O-O-O when safe, and rook lifts to g1 or h1.
- For Black
- Accept or decline the pawn: 3…Nxg4 grabs material but can walk into tactical shots; 3…d4 keeps structure intact.
- Counterstrike in the center with …dxe4 and …e5, or simply maintain the Alekhine strategy of provoking over-extension.
- Rapid development and timely …h5 can blunt White’s pawn storm.
Historical & Theoretical Significance
The Buckley Attack has never been a mainstream choice in top-level practice, but it earned a cult following in American weekend tournaments during the 1980s and 90s thanks to John Buckley’s successful employment of the line against higher-rated opponents. Its appearance in databases is still relatively rare, making it an ideal surprise weapon in rapid or blitz.
Illustrative Game
Buckley’s own games are hard to find in complete form, but the following miniature (rapid, 1994) is often quoted in articles on the variation:
J. Buckley – M. Krasenkow, New York (rapid) 1994 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. g4!? dxe4 4. g5 Nd5 5. Nxe4 Bf5?? 6. Ng3! Bg6 7. h4 h6 8. h5 Bh7 9. g6 fxg6 10. Bd3 Nf4 11. hxg6 Nxd3+ 12. cxd3 — White soon won.
Black’s light-square bishop becomes entangled, and the exposed king proves fatal. Although not theoretically conclusive, the game demonstrates how quickly things can go wrong for an unprepared Black player.
Modern Evaluation
- Engines judge 3. g4!? as roughly equal or slightly worse for White (≈ +0.20 to –0.30) with best play, but the practical score in online blitz is respectable because many players react inaccurately.
- The line avoids the dense forests of Alekhine mainline theory (Exchange, Four Pawns, &c.), making it valuable for club players who prefer ideas over memorization.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- John Buckley allegedly conceived the idea after mis-clicking (or “finger-fehler”) g-pawn in casual play; noticing the discomfort it caused, he refined it into a system.
- Grandmaster Simon Williams (“The Ginger GM”), famous for g-pawn adventures, has featured the Buckley Attack in several video courses and livestreams, adding to its modern popularity.
- Some databases list 3. g4!? as the “Brooklyn Variation,” but most contemporary sources credit Buckley.
- Because of its surprise value, several titled players—including GM Hikaru Nakamura in online blitz—have unleashed the Buckley with success.