Alekhines Defense: Modern (Larsen) Variation
Alekhine’s Defense
Definition
Alekhine’s Defense is a hyper-modern chess opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 Nf6. Black immediately attacks White’s pawn and invites it to advance so that the black pieces can later undermine White’s enlarged pawn center. The ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) codes for the opening are B02–B05.
Strategic Ideas and Usage
- Provocation of Over-extension: By hitting the e-pawn on move one, Black tempts White to chase the knight with e5 and d4, creating a large—but potentially vulnerable—pawn wedge.
- Piece Play vs. Pawns: Black aims to prove that active piece pressure on the pawn chain (…d6, …c5, …Bg7, …Nc6) will cause White’s center to collapse or become static targets.
- Flexible Structures: Depending on White’s reply, Black can adopt several setups, including the Modern Variation (…d6 & …Bg4), the Four-Pawn Attack counter (…d6, …dxe5, …c5), and various Fianchetto schemes with …g6.
- Psychological Weapon: Because it immediately departs from the classical struggle for the center, Alekhine’s Defense can be an excellent surprise choice—even at top level—against opponents who rely on memorized theory.
Historical Background
The opening is named after the fourth World Champion, Alexander Alekhine, who first played it in 1921 (Alekhine–Endre Steiner, Budapest). While not a part of Alekhine’s everyday repertoire, his occasional successes popularized the line, and it secured a permanent place in opening manuals.
Through the decades it has been employed by elite players such as Bobby Fischer, Viktor Korchnoi, Lev Alburt, and, more recently, GMs Fabiano Caruana and Vassily Ivanchuk.
Notable Examples
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Fischer – Benko, U.S. Championship 1963/64
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 — Fischer gradually steam-rollered Benko’s position, illustrating the dangers of ceding too much space without sufficient counterplay. -
Caruana – Mamedyarov, London 2012
A modern top-level encounter in which Black equalised comfortably, showing that the defense remains viable even against world-class preparation.
Interesting Facts
- The opening’s provocatory spirit inspired later hyper-modern defenses such as the Pirc and the Modern.
- According to the 2023 Mega-database, Alekhine’s Defense appears in roughly 1% of games between 2600-rated grandmasters—rare enough to surprise, yet frequent enough to have a well-defined theory.
- Bent Larsen used Alekhine’s Defense as Black and the Modern/Larsen Variation as White, reflecting his willingness to tug the game into unbalanced territory from either side.
Modern / Larsen Variation of the Alekhine’s Defense
Definition
The Modern (Larsen) Variation of Alekhine’s Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3. White reinforces the advanced e5-pawn with a piece rather than another pawn (as in the Four-Pawn Attack) and keeps options flexible for c4 or Bc4. The variation is named after Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen, who championed it in the 1960s and 70s.
Typical Continuations
A few of the major branching points after 4.Nf3 include:
- 4…Bg4 (ECO B05) – “Modern”: Black pins the knight, aiming for …e6 and rapid pressure on d4/e5.
- 4…g6 (ECO B04): A King’s-Indian style fianchetto that challenges the center with …Bg7 and …c5.
- 4…dxe5 5.Nxe5 g6: Black liquidates the e-pawn immediately, steering play into a half-open structure.
Strategic Themes
- Stable Center vs. Piece Pressure: White’s e5-pawn cramps Black, but Black strives to chip at d4 and e5 with …c5 or …f6.
- Flexible Development: White can choose setups with Bc4, Be2, c4, or even g3, while Black decides between pinning systems (…Bg4), fianchetto schemes, or immediate break-outs.
- Long-Term Pawn Targets: If the e5-pawn survives into the middlegame, it often anchors a kingside attack (f4–f5 or Qf3). If it falls, Black’s minor pieces may enjoy superior mobility.
Historical and Practical Significance
Bent Larsen adopted 4.Nf3 regularly, scoring several notable victories—most famously over Boris Spassky, Belgrade 1970. Because the variation avoids the sharp theoretical minefield of the Four-Pawn Attack while still claiming space, it has become the main line of Alekhine’s Defense at master level today.
Illustrative Mini-Game
In this theoretical line, White expands with c4 and Nc3 while Black keeps the pressure alive with …Bg4–h5 and …Qd7, preparing …O-O-O or simply …e5.
Notable Games
- Larsen – Spassky, Belgrade 1970: Larsen’s 14.g4! sparked a kingside storm, culminating in a memorable attacking win.
- Karpov – Miles, London 1986: Karpov demonstrated the positional squeeze possibilities for White when the e5-pawn remains solid.
- Caruana – Mamedyarov, Candidates 2018: A top-level draw that showcased contemporary theory with 4…Bg4.
Interesting Facts
- The move 4.Nf3 was first played—not by Larsen—but by Russian master Vladimir Alatortsev in 1935; however, it was Larsen’s consistent use that brought it into the limelight.
- Computer engines rate the variation slightly in White’s favor (+0.30 to +0.40 at depth 40), yet its dynamic nature keeps it in the repertoire of combative players with Black.
- Because the name “Modern” is already used for several other openings (e.g., the Modern Defense 1…g6), tournament bulletins often specify “Modern/Larsen (Alekhine)” to avoid ambiguity.