ALEKHINE DEFENCE

Alekhine Defense: Normal Variation

1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 dxe5

By playing 4.Nf3 White signals that he is content with his pawn wedge on e5. For the moment white restrains from expanding further and focuses on development. White’s idea is to develop the pieces and then use the pawn wedge to create attacking chances.

Black should react proactively. Although there are radical ideas in this position as well (4…Nc6). After 4...dxe5, 5.dxe5 is also possible but after 5…Bg4 the e-pawn seems more of a weakness than a strength. With Nxe5 white establishes a strong knight in the center. The consequence is that the a1-h8 diagonal is partially cleared.

Black can now play with g6 and Fianchetto the bishop. Black’s goal is to execute the c7-c5 break. After achieving this break the pawn structure will change. Black will have a kingside pawn majority and White will have a Queenside pawn majority.

Black will also have a well-posted knight on d5 which is hard to kick out by playing c4 because it creates new weaknesses. After achieving the central break Black can aim to play for a minority attack with a7-a5-a4.

Alekhine Defense: Cassical Variation

1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 Bg4

This is the second approach. Black doesn’t capture the center immediately but puts pressure on the pieces supporting the center.

In this line, Black plays in the center with e6 and then for a subsequent d6-d5 break. White has a nice space advantage in these lines as well but Black’s position usually proves surprisingly robust.

Alekhine Defense: Alburt Variation

1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 Nf3 g6

This line was very fashionable in the 1980s following its adoption by Fischer in his 1972 World Championship match. However, its popularity has declined since then. Compared to the previous line (Main Line I) the a1-h8 diagonal is not clear. Putting a bishop against the wall of pawns on d4 and e5 hardly seems effective.

But there are some interesting possibilities in this line as well. The first game that you should study is Game 13 of the Fischer-Spassky 1972 match. It showcases the typical ideas in this line and how to repel a white attack on the kingside.

Alekhine Defense Exchange Variation

1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 c4 Nb6 5 exd6

This is by far the most common variation you will face against the Alekhine defense. You can expect to face it in 50% of your games. Luckily it is also the most fun line to play against.

The exchange variation gives no advantage to white if you are well prepared. Black has reasonable chances to outplay their opponent. So learning this line well increases your win rate in Alekhine’s defense.

Alekhine Defense Four Pawns Attack

1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 c4 Nb6 5 f4

The Four Pawns Attack is the antithesis of Alekhine’s defense. White lashes out at Black for not putting his pawn pawns in the center. The mass of pawns in the center may look daunting but it has its vulnerabilities.

Learning a few lines and model games in this variation should be enough to counter white’s strategy.

An important recurring strategic theme in this line is that Black frequently uses the counterattack on the d4 knight to avoid having his knight driven from b4.

The ability to accurately time the counterattack is important in Alekhine defense. One can go as far as to say that the whole premise of the opening is to counterattack. Black has many alternatives at this point. 6…g5 and 6…c5 can also be played with complications. You can use these sidelines as surprise weapons as they are venomous but not easy to refute during a game.

Here is an example game in the Alekhine Defence by the legend Bobby Fisher against Duncan Suttles:

This game perfectly demonstrates the core of the Alekhine defence. The middlegame was chaotic yet controlled, with tension persisting throughout the game. Black tried a Kingside attack and even though white Castled queenside, black's kingside attack gave black the pastpawn thst ultimately won him the game.