Alekhine's Defense: Two Pawns Attack
Alekhine’s Defense – Two Pawns Attack
Definition
The Two Pawns Attack is one of the principal aggressive systems for White against Alekhine’s Defense. After the introductory moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5, White immediately advances a second central pawn with 3. c4, chasing the black knight once more and taking space. The name “Two Pawns” refers to White’s advanced e- and c-pawns that dominate the center and restrict Black’s pieces. ECO codes B04–B05 usually cover this variation.
Typical Move-Order & Position
- e4 Nf6
- e5 Nd5
- c4 Nb6
- d4 d6
- exd6 cxd6 (or 5…exd6)
The resulting structure features a broad white pawn center (d4-e5 or d4-e5-c4) versus Black’s fianchetto-ready minor pieces and pressure against the advanced pawns.
Strategic Ideas
- White
- Maintain the spatial advantage created by the e- and c-pawns.
- Support the pawn chain with Nc3, Nf3, f4, and sometimes Be3/Qd2 for long-castling.
- Undermine Black’s queenside knight on b6 with a2-a4-a5 or c5.
- Convert space into an attack on either wing once development is completed.
- Black
- Target the over-extended pawn chain by timely …d6, …dxe5, and …c5 breaks.
- Pressure the e5-pawn with …Nc6, …g6, …Bg7, and …d6.
- Exploit the light-square weaknesses left by the c- and e-pawn advances.
- Seek exchanges (especially of minor pieces) to reduce the impact of White’s space.
Historical Significance
Alexander Alekhine introduced 1…Nf6 at Budapest 1921 and it quickly attracted counter-punchers. The Two Pawns Attack became the de facto “main line” in the 1930s as players tried to refute Alekhine’s provocative opening by direct expansion. Although modern engines show the position to be roughly equal with best play, the line remains attractive to players who relish dynamic, unbalanced middlegames.
Illustrative Games
- Viktor Korchnoi – Vlastimil Hort, Wijk aan Zee 1972 White employed the a2-a4-a5 plan, gained queenside space, and converted the bishop pair into a win.
- Garry Kasparov – Igor Zaitsev, USSR Ch. 1980 A theoretical duel where Black’s timely …c5 break neutralized the pawns and secured half a point.
- Michael Adams – Alexei Shirov, Linares 1993 Demonstrated the modern approach with early 6.Nc3 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Nf3, leading to a sharp kingside assault.
Modern Practice
The Two Pawns Attack is popular in rapid and blitz, where its forcing nature and the need for precise counterplay can make life difficult for the second player. Elite grandmasters such as Caruana and Nakamura have used it as a surprise weapon, while specialists of the black side—Vachier-Lagrave, Aronian—show how to dissolve White’s center with accurate preparation.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The line was originally called the “Chase Variation,” because White keeps chasing the knight (f6→d5→b6→d5).
- Alexander Alekhine himself faced his own defense—and this variation— only a handful of times, scoring +1 =1 -0.
- Computer engines initially disliked Black’s wandering knight, but modern neural-net evaluations now display near equality after the thematic …d6 and …c5 breakouts.
- In the 1978 Karpov–Korchnoi World Championship match, Korchnoi considered adopting the Two Pawns Attack with White but opted for quieter approaches to avoid heavy preparation.
When to Choose the Two Pawns Attack
Pick this variation if you enjoy:
- Early spatial advantage and central control.
- Open, tactical middlegames with chances on both wings.
- Forcing your opponent to know specific theory starting as early as move three.
In short, the Alekhine’s Defense – Two Pawns Attack is a historically rich, strategically complex, and tactically charged system that continues to appeal to ambitious players on both sides of the board.