Slav Defense: Slav Gambit and Alekhine Attack

Slav Defense: Slav Gambit

Definition

The Slav Gambit—also called the Geller–Tolush Gambit or simply the Slav Gambit—is an aggressive pawn sacrifice in the Slav Defense that arises after the moves 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4. White immediately offers a pawn on c4 (and sometimes a second on b5) in order to seize the center, accelerate development, and launch a rapid kingside initiative.

How It Is Used

• Central domination: After 5.e4, White owns the e- and d-files and gains several tempi while Black spends moves to safeguard the extra pawn.
• Piece activity: The gambit often leads to open lines for bishops and rooks, with the queen frequently heading to e2 or g4.
• Psychological weapon: It sidesteps the deep positional theory of main-line Slavs and forces Black to defend accurately from move 5.

Strategic Ideas

• White typically castles long (O-O-O) and throws pawns on the kingside (h4–h5, g4) at Black’s monarch.
• Black may try to consolidate with …b5 and …e6, but must watch for breaks like d4–d5 or f2–f4.
• Piece activity often trumps material, so returning the pawn at the right moment is a common defensive resource for Black.

Historical Significance

First championed in the late 1940s by Soviet tacticians Alexander Tolush and Efim Geller, the gambit reflected the post-war shift toward dynamic, initiative-based play. Though less common at elite level today, it remains a potent surprise weapon in rapid and classical events alike.

Illustrative Example

A model attacking game is Geller – Keres, USSR Championship, Moscow 1950:

Black’s attempt to hold onto material (…b5) gave White ominous open files and diagonals, culminating in a decisive kingside assault.

Interesting Facts

• In correspondence chess, engines show the line to be objectively acceptable for Black, yet practical results still heavily favor White below 2500.
• Grandmaster Alexei Shirov has repeatedly revived the gambit in the 21st century, often blitzing out 20 moves of home preparation.
• The move 5.e4 even inspired a cheeky nickname—“give me an e”—among students learning aggressive openings.

Alekhine Attack (French Defense)

Definition

The Alekhine Attack—more formally the Chatard–Alekhine Attack—occurs in the French Defense Classical System after 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. h4. By thrusting the h-pawn, White threatens to rip open the h-file (h4-h5) and create mating nets against the black king, frequently at the cost of a pawn on g5.

Purpose and Usage

1. Immediate kingside pressure: h4–h5 forces Black to clarify intentions on the kingside before completing development.
2. Space advantage: The advanced e5-pawn cramps Black’s pieces; the h-pawn further steals squares from the black knight and bishop.
3. Sacrificial themes: Typical sacrifices include Bxh7+ or Nxd5 followed by Qh5+, echoing Alekhine’s romantic style.

Strategic and Historical Context

Named after World Champion Alexander Alekhine, who used the idea (then novel) in simultaneous exhibitions and tournament play during the 1920s. Though theory later showed that accurate defense gives Black equality, the line’s surprise value and attacking motifs ensure it remains in practical use—especially in faster time controls.

Main Defensive Plans for Black

• 6…c5: Immediate counterattack in the center, accepting kingside risks for dynamic equilibrium.
• 6…a6 & …c5: The Burn Variation setup, delaying kingside commitments.
• 6…Bxg5: Liquidates the strong bishop but hands White the h-file after hxg5.

Classic Game Reference

Alekhine – Tartakower, Carlsbad 1929, is the quintessential example:

Alekhine sacrificed material, opened lines, and eventually mated on the h-file, showcasing the attack’s venom.

Interesting Tidbits

• The move 6.h4 was long considered “unsound” by classical analysts; modern engines now rate it as fully playable.
• English GM Nigel Short revived the attack in the 1990s, scoring several spectacular wins that prompted a mini-theoretical renaissance.
• Some databases label the Winawer line 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qg4 as the “Alekhine Attack” as well; both share the same spirit—early queen forays and h-pawn storms.