Alekhine's Defense: Modern Alburt Keres Variations
Alekhine’s Defense
Definition
A hyper-modern opening that begins 1. e4 Nf6. Black immediately attacks the e-pawn, tempting White to advance and create a broad pawn centre that Black intends to undermine later. The opening is named after the fourth World Champion, Alexander Alekhine, who employed it with success in the 1920s.
Typical Move-Order & Main Branches
- 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 is the classical four-move tabiya.
- From here, play can split into:
- Modern Variation – 4. Nf3 g6
- Keres Variation – 4. Nf3 Bg4
- Exchange Variation – 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6
- Four Pawns Attack – 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4
Strategic Idea
By luring White’s centre forward, Black hopes to prove that the advanced pawns are over-stretched. Piece play and pressure on the light squares (especially d5 and e4) are central themes.
Historical Significance
Alekhine introduced the line against Endre Steiner (Budapest, 1921), quickly popularising it. Though never as common as the Sicilian or French, it has featured in World Championship matches (e.g., Karpov – Korchnoi, 1978) and remains a surprise weapon at all levels.
Illustrative Miniature
Alekhine – Endre Steiner, Budapest 1921: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4?! 5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6 exd6 7. Be2 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Nc6? 10. b3! 1-0 (Black’s knights were driven back and the centre collapsed).
Interesting Facts
- Alekhine’s Defense is one of the few mainstream openings beginning with a knight move rather than a pawn move for Black.
- Grandmaster Vassily Smyslov, an endgame virtuoso, used it as a drawing weapon against Botvinnik in 1954.
Modern Variation of the Alekhine: 4…g6
Definition
The Modern Variation arises after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6. Black fianchettoes the king’s bishop, placing long-range pressure on the central light squares.
Key Ideas
- Fianchetto: …g6 and …Bg7 fight for the e5-square and prepare …c5 or …dxe5.
- Flexible centre: Black delays committing the c- or e-pawns, inviting White to over-extend.
- Typical manoeuvres: …Nb6-d7-f8 to re-route the knight, and timely pawn breaks …c5 or …f6.
Main Continuations
- 5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6 cxd6 (main line)
- 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 (transposes to the Alburt Variation)
- 5. h3 Bg7 6. exd6 exd6 avoiding doubled pawns
Strategic Themes for Both Sides
- White: Maintain the pawn wedge on e5, develop quickly with Bc4, Qe2, 0-0-0, and prepare c4-c5 to cramp Black.
- Black: Target the e5-pawn, exchange the dark-squared bishops favourably, and undermine with …dxe5 or …c5.
Historical Tidbit
The line gained popularity in the 1970s when Soviet grandmasters, seeking more dynamic play than the old classical lines, began experimenting with early …g6 setups. It featured in the game Karpov – Korchnoi, Baguio 1978 (Game 23), where Korchnoi equalised comfortably before later losing.
Example Position
After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6 cxd6 the pawn structure is:
White: King g1; Queen d1; Rooks a1,f1; Knights b1,f3; Bishops c1,c4; Pawns a2,b2,c4,d4,e5,f2,g2,h2 Black: King g8; Queen d8; Rooks a8,f8; Knights b6,f6; Bishops c8,g7; Pawns a7,b7,c6,d6,e7,f7,g6,h7
Black will soon play …Bg4, …Nc6 and …dxe5 to chip away at the centre.
Alburt Variation
Definition
A sharpening branch of the Modern Variation named after GM Lev Alburt. The usual move-order is:
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7.
How It Differs from Other Lines
- The early Bc4 forces …Nb6, displacing the d5-knight and gaining time when the bishop retreats to b3.
- Black accepts a slightly cramped queenside but argues that the bishop pair and future breaks (…c5, …dxe5) compensate.
Typical Plans
- White
- Quick 0-0, Re1, and sometimes a kingside pawn storm with h4-h5.
- Advance c4-c5 to clamp down on d6.
- Black
- Prepare …dxe5 followed by …Nc6 and central counterplay.
- If White castles queenside, launch a pawn storm with …a5-a4 and …c5.
Notable Game
Alburt – Timoshenko, USSR Ch 1977: Alburt unleashed a novelties with 9. h4!?, obtaining a kingside initiative that became one of his trademark weapons.
Interesting Facts
- The line suits players who relish asymmetrical positions with opposite-side castling.
- Lev Alburt popularised it in U.S. Championship cycles after his defection in 1979, scoring an impressive 2600-plus with it.
Keres Variation of the Alekhine: 4…Bg4
Definition
Named after Estonian legend Paul Keres, the variation arises after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4. Black pins the f3-knight, increasing pressure on d4 and e5 instead of fianchettoing with …g6.
Strategic Significance
- The pin discourages 5. c4 because …Nb6 and …dxe5 leave the d4-pawn loose.
- Black often follows with …e6, …Be7, and either short or long castling, leading to unbalanced structures.
Main Responses for White
- 5. Be2 – The most solid; White simply breaks the pin.
- 5. h3 – Aims to question the bishop immediately; after 5…Bh5 6. g4 Bg6 7. e6!, complications arise.
- 5. c4 – The Keres accepts the challenge, and sharp play ensues after 5…Nb6 6. exd6 exd6.
Historical Note
Keres first used the pin in the late 1930s, notably against Grandmaster Gideon Ståhlberg (Kemeri, 1937). The idea temporarily fell out of fashion but was revived by English GM Michael Basman in the 1980s.
Illustrative Game
Karpov – Korchnoi, Candidates Final 1974 (Game 4)
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. c4 Nb6 7. exd6 cxd6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. h3 Bh5 10. b3! → Karpov ultimately exploited the queenside space to squeeze out a 1-0 victory.
Fun Anecdote
Paul Keres reportedly discovered the move 4…Bg4 while analysing on a Baltic ferry during a storm; he joked that “the waves dictated the pin.” Whether true or apocryphal, the story adds colour to an already enterprising line.