Alekhines Defense, Scandinavian, Spielmann Gambit
Alekhine’s Defense
Definition
Alekhine’s Defense is an unorthodox king-pawn opening that begins with the moves 1. e4 Nf6. Black voluntarily brings out the king’s knight on the very first move, inviting White to advance the e-pawn and create an over-extended center that Black hopes to undermine later.
Typical Move Orders
- 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 (Main Line)
- 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. f4 (Four Pawns Attack)
- 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 cxd6 6. Nc3 g6 (Modern Variation)
Strategic Ideas
- Provocation: By attacking White’s e-pawn immediately, Black coaxes the pawn to e5, aiming to tempt further central expansion that will become a target.
- Piece Play over Pawns: Black’s knights often dance around the board (Nf6–d5–b6), luring White’s pawns forward, then counterattacking with …d6, …c5, and …Bg7.
- Imbalance: The opening frequently leads to asymmetrical pawn structures, giving both players wide-ranging middlegame plans.
Historical Significance
The opening is named after the fourth World Champion, Alexander Alekhine, who employed it three times during the 1921 Budapest tournament with a perfect score. His bold choice inspired many later practitioners, including Fischer, Korchnoi, and Ivanchuk.
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn|This game, Alekhine – Grünfeld, Vienna 1922, shows how White’s over-extended center can become fragile once Black’s minor pieces attack from a distance.
Interesting Facts
- Because the knight returns to b6 or d5 so often, club players jokingly call it the “knight-walk opening.”
- Garry Kasparov briefly used Alekhine’s Defense in rapid chess to avoid heavy computer preparation.
- The Four Pawns Attack (with f4) is one of the most aggressive anti-Alekhine systems and was a favorite of Bobby Fischer in casual blitz.
Scandinavian Defense
Definition
The Scandinavian Defense (also called the Center Counter Defense) begins with 1. e4 d5. Black strikes at the center immediately, forcing an early exchange or complex central tension.
Main Variations
- Modern (or “Main”) Line: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5.
- Icelandic-Palme Gambit: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 c6 (rapid development in exchange for a pawn).
- Portuguese Variation: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4!
- 3…Qd6 Line: 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 (keeps the queen more centrally placed).
Strategic Themes
- Early Queen Development: Black’s queen often emerges on move two or three. Accurate play is required so it does not become a target of tempo-gaining piece attacks.
- Open Files and Active Pieces: Because the e-pawn gets exchanged, both players can develop pieces rapidly, aiming at the half-open e- and d-files.
- Flexible Structures: Depending on whether Black plays …c6 or …g6, positions can resemble the Caro-Kann or the Pirc/Modern Defense.
Historical Notes
The Scandinavian is one of the oldest recorded openings, appearing in Lucena’s 1497 manuscript. It gained modern popularity after the 1990s thanks to grandmasters like John Nunn and Grandmaster Curt Hansen, whose successes inspired a fresh generation of players to employ 1…d5 against 1. e4.
Model Game
[[Pgn|The classic trap “Mortimer–Bryne mate” (Anderssen, 1860) highlights the lurking tactical opportunities created by Black’s centralized queen and rapid minor-piece pressure down the a3–f8 diagonal.
Interesting Facts
- Viswanathan Anand used the Scandinavian Defense in his very first World Championship match (against Kasparov, 1995) to surprise the champion in rapid tiebreaks.
- The name “Center Counter” remained common in U.S. literature until the 1950s; “Scandinavian” gained favor after Scandinavian masters like Jørgen Møller analyzed the line extensively.
- An ultra-modern spin, 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 c6, is called the “Scandinavian Gambit” and can transpose into Caro-Kann-like structures.
Spielmann Gambit
Definition
The Spielmann Gambit is a dynamic pawn sacrifice in the Vienna Game, named after the Austrian attacking virtuoso Rudolf Spielmann. The most commonly accepted move sequence is: 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. d3! White offers the pawn on e4 to accelerate development and open lines toward Black’s king.
Key Ideas
- Rapid Piece Play: After 5.d3, White aims for Bf4, Qf3, and 0-O-O-O, piling pressure against f7 and the e-file.
- Center Control vs. Material: Black can cling to the extra pawn (…Qh4+ or …Bb4) or return it to complete development; either way, the struggle revolves around whether the pawn is worth the initiative.
- Flexible Transpositions: The gambit can also arise from the King’s Gambit Declined or the Bishop’s Opening, reflecting Spielmann’s love for opening creativity.
Historical Background
Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942), dubbed “The Last Knight of the King’s Gambit,” used the line in numerous exhibition games. Although it never became mainstream, the gambit attracted romantic players seeking sharp, offbeat play without heavy opening theory.
Critical Continuations
- 5…Nxc3 6. bxc3 d4 7. Nf3: Black grabs a second pawn but concedes the light-squared bishop pair; the open b-file gives White rook activity.
- 5…Bb4 6. dxe4 Qh4+ 7. Ke2 Bxc3 8. bxc3: Wild complications where both kings stand in the center.
- 5…Nc5 6. d4 Ne6 7. Nf3 c5: A modern, more solid approach by Black trying to blunt White’s pressure.
Sample Game
[[Pgn|Spielmann’s knights leapt all over the board, demonstrating the attacking potential White obtains despite being a pawn (and later two pawns) down.
Interesting Facts
- Because 5.d3 is quiet-looking, some databases incorrectly classify the line under “Vienna Mixed.” In fact it is a full-blooded gambit once Black captures on e4.
- Modern engines give the Spielmann Gambit a roughly equal evaluation (≈0.00) with best play, but practical results still favor White at club level thanks to the unfamiliar positions.
- Grandmaster Baadur Jobava has used the gambit in online blitz, reviving interest among younger players.