Alekhine's Defense: Modern Main Line & Variation
Alekhine’s Defense
Definition
Alekhine’s Defense is a hypermodern chess opening that arises after the moves 1. e4 Nf6. Black immediately attacks White’s e-pawn with the knight instead of occupying the center with pawns. The idea, championed by the fourth World Champion Alexander Alekhine, is to tempt White into advancing their center pawns so that Black can undermine and attack them later.
Typical Move Order
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 (or 4.c4) …
Strategic Themes
- Provocation: Black invites the pawns to march forward so they can become targets.
- Piece Play over Pawns: Knights and bishops strive for active posts while the center becomes fluid.
- Timing the …d6 break: Black’s pawn lever at d6 (and later …c5 or …e5) challenges the broad white center.
Historical Significance
The opening debuted in master play in the 1921 Alekhine–Endre Steiner game, but it earned true fame when Alekhine used it to defeat Bogoljubov in 1922. Bobby Fischer stunned Boris Spassky with it in Game 13 of the 1972 World Championship, though Fischer eventually lost that game.
Illustrative Game
Trivia
- When asked why he invented such a provocative defense, Alekhine allegedly replied, “Because I like to attack pawns with pieces.”
- Early computers struggled versus Alekhine’s Defense; it took Deep Blue–level hardware to treat it reliably for White.
Modern Variation of Alekhine’s Defense (often called the Modern Main Line)
Definition
The Modern Variation occurs after 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6. Black delays exchanging on e5, electing instead to fianchetto the king’s bishop and build up pressure on the light squares.
Characteristic Position
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7
Strategic Ideas
- Fianchetto Pressure: …Bg7 eyes d4 and e5 from afar.
- Flexible Counterplay: Black can choose between …0-0, …Nc6, or …dxe5 followed by …c5.
- Minor-Piece Battles: The dark-squared bishop becomes Black’s “good” piece; White usually tries to neutralize it with Be3, Qd2, and sometimes Bh6.
Historic & Theoretical Notes
Grandmaster Bukhuti Gurgenidze popularized the 4…g6 system in the 1960s, refining it in correspondence games. It is currently one of the two most respected answers to 4.Nf3 (the other being the Classical 4…dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6).
Sample Continuation
Interesting Fact
Because both sides castle on opposite wings surprisingly often, the Modern Variation can become a race of pawn storms—an unusual feature for openings that stem from hypermodern principles.
Main Line (Opening Terminology)
Definition
In opening theory a “main line” (sometimes written Mainline) refers to the most widely accepted or heavily studied sequence of moves in a given opening. It is the line that appears at the top of most databases, books, or ECO tables.
Usage in Chess Literature
- Authors introduce side-lines with phrases like “Instead of the main line, White can try…”
- Engine annotations often evaluate “the main line continuation” several moves deep.
Strategic Significance
Because main lines are subjected to the greatest analytical scrutiny, they tend to be the most theoretically sound or, at minimum, the most fashionable among top players. Prepared surprises often lurk outside the main line.
Example
In the Ruy Lopez, the main line of the Closed Variation begins 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3. Any deviation before 9.h3 (such as 6…d6 or 8…Na5) is considered a side-line.
Anecdote
During the 2008 World Championship, commentators joked that Viswanathan Anand had “rewritten the main line” of the Semi-Slav Meran by unveiling a prepared novelty on move 15, instantly shifting theoretical evaluations overnight.
Alekhine Variation (Queen’s Gambit Accepted)
Definition
The Alekhine Variation—sometimes called the Alekhine Gambit—of the Queen’s Gambit Accepted arises after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4. White sacrifices the c4-pawn to seize immediate control of the center with pawns on d4 and e4, aiming for rapid development and an eventual e4-e5 break.
Core Position After 3.e4
White: King on e1; Queen on d1; Knights on g1 & b1; Bishops on c1 & f1; Rooks a1,h1; Pawns a2,b2,c4,d4,e4,f2,g2,h2 Black: King on e8; Queen on d8; Knights on g8 & b8; Bishops on c8 & f8; Rooks a8,h8; Pawns a7,b7,c4 (captured),d5,e7,f7,g7,h7 Side to move: Black
Strategic Features
- Gambit Play: White can regain the pawn with Bxc4 or Nf3-G5 but often prefers long-term pressure.
- Space Advantage: The e4-pawn cramps Black’s pieces; …e5 is hard to achieve without preparation.
- King Safety: Black must decide on a setup—either …e6 & …c5 for counterplay, or more solid …Nf6 & …e6 intending …c5 later.
Historical Note
Although named after Alekhine, the idea was known earlier. Alekhine’s spectacular win over Rubinstein at Vienna 1922 brought the line into vogue. Modern exponents include Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Levon Aronian, who use it as a surprise weapon in rapid chess.
Sample Game
Fun Fact
Because the variation can transpose to King’s Indian structures if Black plays …Nf6 and …g6, some theoreticians call it a “Queen’s Indian Accepted” hybrid!