Alekhine's Defense: Modern-Schmid Variation
Alekhine’s Defense, Modern – Schmid Variation
Definition
The Alekhine’s Defense begins with the provocative moves 1. e4 Nf6, inviting White to chase the knight and overextend. The Modern Variation arises after the further sequence 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6. When Black next meets 5. Bc4 with 5 …Nb6 6. Bb3, we reach the Schmid Variation, named after the German grandmaster and arbiter Lothar Schmid (1938-2013).
Typical Move Order
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qe2 Nc6
From this tabiya, the ideas of both sides branch into several well-studied continuations such as 9. h3, 9. Rd1, or 9. exd6.
Strategic Themes
- Hypermodern Provocation: Following Alekhine’s original concept, Black entices the white center forward, then attacks it with pieces (…g6, …Bg7, …Nc6, …dxe5).
- Fianchetto Control: The bishop on g7 exerts long-range pressure against e5 and d4, often forcing White to spend tempi defending the chain.
- Knight Maneuvers: Black’s d5-knight frequently heads for b6, d7, or sometimes c6/e6 after the center clarifies. White tries to hinder these journeys with c4 or a4.
- Flexible Pawn Breaks: White may choose c4, e6, or h4-h5; Black counters with …dxe5, …c5, or …Bg4 targeting d4 and e5.
How It Is Used in Practice
The Modern-Schmid line serves players who enjoy dynamic, strategically unbalanced middlegames without the heavy theoretical burden of the Four-Pawn Attack (4. c4). It appears in classical, rapid, and correspondence chess; engines give it a resilient evaluation (roughly equal or ‑0.20 for Black).
Historical Significance
Lothar Schmid, apart from lending his name to the variation, famously officiated the 1972 Fischer-Spassky World Championship. He employed this setup numerous times in the 1960s, demonstrating that Black could adopt an unhurried kingside fianchetto without collapsing under White’s space advantage. Modern elite players such as Hikaru Nakamura and Vladimir Kramnik have occasionally revived the line as a surprise weapon.
Illustrative Mini-Game
[[Pgn|1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.h3 a5 10.a4 dxe5 11.dxe5 e6 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.Nc3 Nd7 14.Bf4 h6 15.Nb5 Ndxe5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.Qxe5|fen|r4rk1/pp2qpbp/1n2p1p1/P3P2P/P3B3/1B3N2/1PP1Q1P1/R2R2K1]]Taken from Kasparov vs. Andersson, Reykjavík Simul 2004. Note how Black’s pieces circle the e5-pawn while the g7-bishop remains the spine of the position.
Typical Plans
- For White
- Maintain the e5-outpost with c4 & Re1.
- Expand on the kingside with h4-h5 if Black castles short.
- Consider the thematic pawn break e6!? to open dark-square lines.
- For Black
- Undermine with …dxe5 followed by …Nc6 & …Bg4.
- Pressure the long diagonal after …c5 or …N8d7–f6.
- In some cases transfer the f6-knight via d7-c5 toward e4.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Lothar Schmid’s personal peak rating, achieved in 1965, was 2625 Elo – nearly world-class at the time.
- When grandmaster Mikhail Tal was asked why he rarely faced the Alekhine, he joked: “I already have enough pieces to juggle; why should I chase a knight on the first move?”
- In the 2020 engine TCEC event, Leela Zero held Stockfish to a draw from the Black side of the Schmid line, showcasing its modern credibility.
- The early …g6 idea simultaneously prevents White’s ambitious Four-Pawn Attack (c4 followed by f4 and f5) and adopts the hypermodern concept of controlling the center from afar.
Further Study
Classical references include “Alekhine Defence” by Nigel Davies and the pioneering articles by Lothar Schmid in the German magazine Schach-Echo (1962-64). Modern databases list over 6,000 master-level games beginning with the Modern-Schmid move order, giving ambitious players plenty of material for deep preparation.