Alekhine's Defense: Four Pawns & Korchnoi Variation
Alekhine’s Defense
Definition
Alekhine’s Defense is a hyper-modern opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 Nf6. Black invites White to advance the e-pawn, aiming to provoke an over-extended center that can later be undermined with piece pressure and pawn breaks.
Typical Move-Order
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 is the most frequently seen continuation, though 3…g6 or 3…d5 are also playable sidelines.
Strategic Themes
- Provocation: Black tempts White to push pawns to e5, d4, c4 and even f4, hoping these pawns will later become targets.
- Piece Activity over Pawn Structure: Black’s knights and bishops often gain rapid activity in the vacated central squares.
- Counter-punching: The opening rarely stays quiet—both sides must know tactical motifs such as …dxe5, …c5 and the exchange sacrifice …Rxf3 in many variations.
Historical Perspective
Named after World Champion Alexander Alekhine, who introduced it in 1921 (Alekhine–Endre Steiner, Budapest). Initially considered dubious, it has since been adopted by aggressive defenders such as Fischer, Korchnoi, and more recently Nakamura.
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn|Alekhine,Alexander – Endre Steiner, Budapest 1921 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.h3 Bh5 8.c4 Nb6 9.exd6 cxd6 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Be3 d5 12.c5 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Nc4 14.Bc1 Nc6 15.b3 N4a5 16.Be3 b6 17.cxb6 axb6 18.Rc1 Ba3 19.Rc2 Nb4 20.Re2 Rc8 21.Nb5|fen|r2q1rk1/pp1b1ppp/n1npp3/nNP4B/3P4/1P1B1N1P/P3RPP1/R2Q2K1]]Alekhine demonstrated how pressure against White’s center can quickly yield tangible targets.
Trivia & Anecdotes
- GM Vassily Ivanchuk once played Alekhine’s Defense with White by starting 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e4!?
- The opening appears in the 1993 film “Searching for Bobby Fischer” during the park scenes—spot the position on the board!
Four Pawns Attack (in Alekhine’s Defense)
Definition
The Four Pawns Attack is White’s most aggressive reply to Alekhine’s Defense, characterized by the sequence 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4, erecting a massive pawn phalanx on e5–d4–c4–f4.
Strategic Aims
- Space Grab: White seizes almost total control of the center and kingside.
- Direct Attack: After Nf3, Be3, and Qd2, White often castles long and storms the kingside.
- Dynamic Risk: The very pawns that give White space can become weaknesses; Black counters with …c5, …dxe5, or the fianchetto setup …g6 …Bg7 aiming at e5 and d4.
Model Position
After 5…g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Nf3, the board shows White’s four advanced pawns versus Black’s compact, flexible structure.
Historical Significance
Although first tried in the 1920s, the line became fashionable after World War II when players such as Reuben Fine and later Viktor Korchnoi employed it with both colors.
Example Game
[[Pgn|Fischer,Robert – Wade,Robert; Palma de Mallorca 1970 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 dxe5 11.dxe5 Nc6 12.Rd1 Qc8 13.Be2 f6 14.exf6 exf6 15.c5 dxc5 16.Bxc5 Re8|fen|r1q3k1/ppn3bp/1n2ppp1/2P5/2P2P2/2N1BQ1P/PP2B1P1/3R2K1]]Fischer (with White) displayed how flexible piece play can back up the pawn storm.
Fun Facts
- Many engines show a slight edge to Black after best play, yet the line remains popular at club level because the positions are complicated and unbalanced.
- The ECO codes A22–A24 are reserved almost exclusively for the Four Pawns Attack.
Korchnoi Variation (Four Pawns Attack of Alekhine’s Defense)
Definition
The Korchnoi Variation arises after 5…g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Nf3 Bg4. By pinning the knight on f3, Black intensifies pressure on d4 and forces White to commit to structural decisions.
Origins & Naming
Viktor “Viktor the Terrible” Korchnoi refined this plan in the late 1960s and used it in critical games—hence the variation’s name. His successes versus grandmasters like Lubomir Kavalek highlighted the line’s counterattacking potential.
Strategic Hallmarks
- The f3-pin: Limits White’s ability to reinforce e5 and delays kingside castling plans such as 0-0-0.
- …dxe5 Timing: Black often waits until the knight can’t recapture comfortably, then liquidates the e-pawn to open lines for the bishops.
- Minor-Piece Imbalances: The trade …Bxf3 can double White’s f-pawns, giving Black dark-square targets.
Critical Continuations
- 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 dxe5 11.dxe5 Nc6 – White keeps pieces but Black hits e5/d4 with knights and pawns.
- 9.Be2 Nc6 10.0-0 dxe5 11.fxe5 f6 – leading to razor-sharp positions.
Illustrative Game (Annotated)
[[Pgn|Korchnoi,Viktor – Kavalek,Lubomir; Skopje Olympiad 1972 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.Be2 dxe5 10.fxe5 c5 11.dxc5 N6d7 12.0-0 Nc6 13.e6 Bxe6 14.Ng5 Nf6 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Qe1 Nd4 17.Rd1 e5 18.Bf3 Qc8 19.Bxd4 exd4 20.Nd5 Qxc5 21.Nxe7+ Kh8 22.b4 Qxc4 23.Qh4 Rad8 24.Nxg6+ Kg8 25.Nxf8 Rxf8 26.Qxd4 Qxa2 27.Qc5 b6 28.Qc7 Qa3 29.Rxd4 – 1-0|fen|5r2/2Q3pk/1p2p1q1/2qp4/1P1R4/5B2/5PP1/4R1K1]]Korchnoi (White) out-calculated his opponent in a quintessentially double-edged struggle arising directly from the variation he popularized.
Interesting Nuggets
- Engines fluctuate wildly in their early evaluations here; a single tempo can swing the assessment from +0.5 to –0.5.
- Korchnoi jokingly claimed he invented the line to “save walking time” because Black’s moves come naturally after …Bg4!
- The line maintains a healthy 50-percent score for Black in modern databases—proof of its resilience.