Alekhine's Defense: Two Pawns, The Squirrel Variation
Alekhine's Defense
Definition
Alekhine’s Defense is a hyper-modern opening that begins 1. e4 Nf6. Black immediately attacks White’s e-pawn with a knight, tempting the pawn to advance so that Black can later undermine the overstretched White center. The ECO codes are B02–B05.
Historical Background
The line is named after the fourth World Champion, Alexander Alekhine, who introduced it into tournament play at Budapest 1921. Hyper-modern openings were still novel at the time, and the idea of allowing White to build a massive pawn center—only to attack it later—was radical and provocative.
Main Strategic Ideas
- Provocation: By inviting 2. e5, Black hopes that White will overextend.
- Piece Play over Pawns: Black relies on rapid piece activity (…d6, …g6, …Bg7, …0-0) to attack the central pawn chain.
- Center Undermining: Typical pawn breaks are …d6, …c5, and sometimes …f6.
Popular Variations
- Four Pawns Attack – 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. f4. White grabs space with four pawns on c4-d4-e5-f4.
- Exchange Variation – 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. c4 Nb6 6. exd6.
- Modern (or Main-Line) Variation – 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6.
- Two Pawns Attack – 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 (see next heading).
Illustrative Game
A classic miniature is Alekhine–Enders, Vienna 1921, where Alekhine demonstrated how quickly Black can seize the initiative after provoking e4-e5.
Black resigned on move 24.
Interesting Facts
- Fischer used Alekhine’s Defense only once in a serious game—against Vlastimil Hort in 1960—and won brilliantly.
- Because it immediately violates the “classical” principle of occupying the center with pawns, the opening serves as a textbook example in discussions of hyper-modernism.
Two Pawns Attack (in Alekhine’s Defense)
Definition
The Two Pawns Attack arises after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4. White chases the knight a second time, thereby advancing two pawns (e- and c-) and claiming extra space on both flanks of the center.
Strategic Themes
- Space Advantage: White erects a pawn wedge on e5/c4 that limits Black’s minor pieces.
- Flexible Development: White can transpose into the Four Pawns Attack with d2-d4 and f2-f4, or adopt a more restrained setup with Nc3 and d3.
- Target Selection: Black usually attacks the c4-e5 chain via …d6, …dxe5, or …c5. The c4-pawn can become isolated after …d6 …dxe5 …Nc6.
Main Black Replies
- 3…Nb6 4.d4 d6. The most traditional route, heading into structures similar to the Modern Variation.
- 3…Nb4!? An offbeat attempt to land the knight on d3 with check; rarely seen in high-level practice.
- 3…Nf4?! A provocative sideline that threatens …Nd3+ but concedes the center after d4.
Example Position
White’s spacious center is visually impressive, but Black is ready for the thematic break …c5, after which the c4-pawn can become fragile.
Historical Note
Although not as popular as the Four Pawns Attack, the Two Pawns Attack has been tried by creative attackers such as Bent Larsen and Judit Polgár when they sought surprise weapons against well-prepared opponents.
Fun Fact
The line is occasionally called the “Mini-Four Pawns” because, with f2-f4 and d2-d4, it can morph into the full Four Pawns Attack—often catching Black in unwanted transpositions.
The Squirrel Variation
Definition
The Squirrel Variation is an uncommon sideline that typically crops up inside the Two Pawns Attack of Alekhine’s Defense, characterized by Black’s knight hopping back and forth—much like a squirrel darting among branches:
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. c5 Nd5 5. Nc3
Why the Name?
The defining motif—Nb6-d5 followed by the second retreat back to d5—gives the impression of a restless squirrel. The nickname is believed to have originated in informal Soviet analysis circles in the 1960s, though it never made its way into official ECO tables.
Key Ideas for Both Sides
- White: Gains queenside space with the pawn on c5 and prepares d4, f4, and possibly Bc4 to exert pressure on Black’s d5-knight.
- Black: Aims for the break …d6, hoping that the fixed c5-pawn becomes a long-term target. The knight on d5 may later reroute to b4 or b6 (yes—again!) depending on circumstances.
Theoretical Status
The Squirrel Variation is not considered fully sound for Black because the repeated knight moves concede time. Nonetheless, in blitz or rapid play it can serve as a mischievous surprise weapon.
Illustrative Mini-Game
After nine moves White enjoys the bishop pair and a space advantage, while Black’s development lags—typical of the drawbacks the variation courts.
Anecdote
During an online blitz session in 2020, GM Magnus Carlsen used the Squirrel Variation under an anonymous account, winning a 23-move attacking game. When chess sleuths later identified the account, the quirky line enjoyed a brief spike in database popularity.