QGD: 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 - Alekhine Variation
QGD: 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 — Alekhine Variation of the Vienna System
Definition
The sequence of moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. a3 is a branch of the Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) known in modern opening manuals as the Vienna System, Alekhine Variation (ECO code D37). After White’s fourth move a3, the queen-side knight immediately questions Black’s pinning bishop on b4. Black must now decide whether to:
- Capture with 4…Bxc3+ and concede the bishop pair, or
- Retreat (e.g., 4…Be7) and keep the minor pieces, accepting a small loss of time.
Typical Usage in Play
The Alekhine Variation is most often chosen by players who enjoy the long-term power of the bishop pair and are happy to accept doubled c-pawns. It is commonly reached through the pure QGD move order shown above, but it can also arise via transposition from certain Nimzo-Indian or Ragozin lines when Black delays …Nf6.
Strategic Themes
- The Bishop Pair & Central Majority. After 4…Bxc3+ 5.bxc3, White enjoys two bishops and a healthy central pawn duo (c- and d-pawns) at the cost of a slightly weakened pawn structure.
- Minor-Piece Imbalance. Black retains the knight pair and tries to keep the position closed, often placing a knight on e4 after …f5 or on c4 after …c5.
- Timing of …c5. Both sides watch carefully for the right moment to strike in the centre; …c5 by Black or cxd5 followed by e4 by White are typical break attempts.
- Long-Term vs. Short-Term Gains. White’s long-range bishops come to life in endgames, whereas Black hopes to exploit doubled c-pawns in the middlegame.
Historical Notes
Alexander Alekhine popularised 4.a3 in the early 1920s, using it against players such as Rubinstein and Yates; hence the variation bears his name. Although eclipsed for several decades by the more fashionable Exchange QGD and the Catalan, the line received renewed attention in the 1990s thanks to players like Vladimir Kramnik and Valery Salov, who valued its strategic clarity.
Illustrative Mini-Line
The following short PGN shows the most common branch, highlighting the contrasting plans (arrows mark central pawn breaks):
- White’s bishops eye h4-d8 and a2-g8 diagonals.
- Black immediately attacks the base of White’s centre with …c5.
Famous Games Featuring 4.a3
- Alekhine – Rubinstein, Karlsbad 1923 Alekhine demonstrates the latent power of the bishop pair in a long endgame.
- Kramnik – Salov, Linares 1993 Modern treatment: Kramnik sacrifices the c-pawn for rapid development.
- Giri – Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee 2012 World Champion employs the knight pair to maintain dynamic balance.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- When Alekhine first played 4.a3, contemporary commentators called it “a waste of a tempo.” Two decades later, Botvinnik labelled the idea “positionally profound.”
- In several early games Black tried the audacious 4…Qh4? hoping for quick tactics against d4. The line is now refuted but remains a fun puzzle for club players.
- The pawn structure after 4…Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 resembles the Exchange Caro-Kann; thus some analysts refer to it humorously as the “Caro-Kann Gambit” in the Queen’s Gambit.
Practical Tips
- White players should learn typical exchange-into-endgame techniques to maximise the bishop pair.
- Black should be prepared for both quiet lines (5…Nf6 6.e3) and sharp options like 5…c5 6.cxd5 cxd4 7.Qxd4!?.
- If you enjoy Nimzo-Indian structures but dislike the move …Nf6, this Vienna move order gives a Nimzo flavour within the QGD.