Alekhine's Defense: Brooklyn/Everglades Variation
Alekhine’s Defense – Brooklyn (Everglades) Variation
Definition
The Brooklyn, also known as the Everglades, Variation of Alekhine’s Defense arises after the moves 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8 ?!. Black’s knight provocatively returns to its original square on g8 after having lured White’s pawn to e5 on the previous move. The ECO code is B02. In many databases it is listed under the names “Brooklyn,” “Everglades,” or simply “2…Ng8”.
Typical Move Order
The most straightforward continuation is:
- e4 Nf6
- e5 Ng8 ?!
- d4 d6
- Nf3 g6 (or 4…dxe5)
From here, play often transposes into positions that resemble the Pirc/Modern complexes or a Philidor set-up, except that Black has spent two tempi on the king’s knight while White enjoys a space advantage in the center.
Strategic Ideas & Assessment
- Black’s Concept. By retreating, Black hopes that the advanced white e-pawn becomes an overextended target after …d6 and …dxe5, or that the game drifts into uncharted positional waters where practical chances compensate for the lost time.
- White’s Plan. Exploit the extra tempi by:
- quickly occupying the center with d4 and c4 or f4,
- gaining space on the kingside (e.g. h3, g4), and
- keeping lines closed long enough to restrict Black’s piece development.
- Theoretical Verdict. Modern theory considers 2…Ng8 dubious. Objective evaluation: += (White is clearly better). Nevertheless, it is not immediately losing and can be used as a surprise weapon in rapid or blitz games.
Historical & Naming Notes
The nickname “Brooklyn” is generally attributed to the late IM Norman Weinstein, a New York player from (where else?) Brooklyn, who employed the retreat in local events during the 1960s–70s. The moniker “Everglades” appears in some U.S. regional literature, possibly because early pamphlets that discussed the line were circulated by Florida enthusiasts (the exact etymology is murky). Both names refer to the same 2…Ng8 idea.
Illustrative Mini-Game
[[Pgn| 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Ng8 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Bc4 e6 7. Qe2 Nxe5 8. dxe5 Ne7 9. O-O |fen| rnbqk2r/ppp1nppp/3p4/4P3/2B5/8/PPPQ1PPP/R3KBNR b KQkq - 3 9 ]]After 9.O-O White enjoys rapid development and a lead in space, while Black still struggles to untangle the queenside pieces. Engines give White roughly a +1.5 evaluation.
Notable Occurrences
- Weinstein – Benko, New York Open 1971 – possibly the first master-level outing; White converted a large space edge into a winning endgame.
- Shabalov – Benjamin, U.S. Blitz Ch. 1997 – Black sprang the line as a shock weapon; despite objective inferiority, the game ended in a wild draw after mutual time trouble.
- Online Bullet Era. The variation has found a second life on servers, where surprise value and clock pressure partly offset its theoretical drawbacks. Blitz specialists sometimes label it “boomerang chess” because the knight leaves and comes right back.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Grandmaster Bent Larsen once quipped, “Only a New York taxi would make a U-turn that fast,” when shown 2…Ng8.
- Because the knight returns home, some wags nickname it the “commuter variation”—it goes to work (f6) and rides the subway back (g8) before the day has even started.
- In 2012 a correspondence player tried to rehabilitate the line with an early …c5 gambit. After months of analysis the verdict was still poor for Black, but a 50-page PDF of novel ideas was born.
Practical Tips for Both Sides
- White: Do not rush to exchange the advanced e-pawn. Support it with f4 or c4 to clamp down on …d6–dxe5 ideas.
- Black: Aim for a solid Pirc-style setup (…g6, …Bg7, …d6, …e6) and hope to undermine White’s center later with …c5 or …f6.
- In faster time controls, emphasize piece activity and tactical chances; in classical chess, be prepared for a long, slightly worse defense as Black.
Summary
The Brooklyn/Everglades Variation of Alekhine’s Defense is an offbeat, time-wasting retreat (2…Ng8) that courts psychological and practical edges rather than theoretical soundness. While engines and modern opening manuals condemn it, the line remains a colorful footnote in opening theory and a fun weapon for players who relish unorthodox challenges.