Alekhines Defense Modern Main Line
Alekhine’s Defense – Modern Main Line
Definition
The Modern Main Line of Alekhine’s Defense is a sequence of moves arising after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6. It is called “modern” because the fianchetto of Black’s king-side bishop— an idea that only became popular in the mid-20th century—replaced the earlier classical plan of …Bg4 or …dxe5. Most modern theory continues with 5. c4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7, entering a rich middlegame in which Black concedes spatial dominance in the center in return for piece activity and long-term pressure against White’s pawn chain.
Typical Move Order (Main Tabiyah)
- e4 Nf6
- e5 Nd5
- d4 d6
- Nf3 g6
- c4 Nb6
- Nc3 Bg7
- exd6 cxd6
- h3 O-O
After these eight moves the “Modern Main Line” tabiyah is reached. From here the game can branch into several sub-variations, most notably 9. Be2 Nc6 or 9. Bd3 Nc6. Both sides still have all the pieces on the board, and the struggle revolves around central tension, the fate of the d6-pawn, and potential breaks with …e5 or …c5.
Strategic Themes
- Space vs. Flexibility: White’s pawns on e5 and c4 grant greater central space, but they can also become targets.
- Fixed Pawn Chain: The chain e5–d4 gives White a spatial wedge; Black’s typical plan is to undermine it with …c5, …dxe5, or …f6.
- King-side Fianchetto: The bishop on g7 eyes the e5-pawn and, after potential trades, the c3-knight. It often becomes the most important minor piece on the board.
- Minor-Piece Manoeuvres: Black’s Nb6 commonly reroutes to d7–b6–c4 or via a4. White may reposition the knight from c3 to d5 or b5, applying pressure on d6 and c7.
- Endgame Considerations: If Black equalises, the half-open c- and e-files can grant counterplay, while the long-term weakness of d6 becomes less relevant once queens are exchanged.
Historical Background
World Champion Alexander Alekhine introduced 1…Nf6 at the 1921 Budapest tournament, but he himself preferred more direct counterattacks with …dxe5 and …Bg4. The fianchetto plan was later championed by Vladimir Bagirov and Lev Alburt in the 1960s–70s, after which it became the theoretical main line. Viktor Korchnoi notably relied on it in his 1978 World Championship match against Anatoly Karpov. In modern elite play, grandmasters such as Fabiano Caruana, Vachier-Lagrave, and Hikaru Nakamura have employed the Modern Main Line as a surprise weapon.
Illustrative Game
Caruana – Vachier-Lagrave, Dortmund 2011 (shortened for clarity):
Usage in Modern Chess
The line is favoured by players who enjoy dynamic, unbalanced structures and do not mind a slightly passive first phase. In rapid and blitz, the unfamiliar pawn chain and piece manoeuvres often catch opponents unprepared. At classical time controls, the Modern Main Line remains theoretically healthy, though engines rate the position as “+=” (small pull for White) if White plays the most precise moves.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- When Korchnoi unveiled 4…g6 against Karpov in 1978, the champion admitted he had looked at the line “only cursorily” and needed over an hour to make his first ten moves!
- The earliest recorded game with the exact move order 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 was played by Ernst Grünfeld—better known for another hypermodern defence— in Vienna, 1924.
- Modern engines suggest that the unusual sideline 5.h4!?—charging the h-pawn to h5—scores unexpectedly well in correspondence chess, illustrating how flexible the position is.
- In blitz, Magnus Carlsen once employed the line to defeat the engine “Komodo” in a human-computer match, relying on the strategic complexity of the middlegame rather than concrete calculation.