The Alekhine (1.e4 Nf6) is a rare guest in general and especially at a high-level. During the pandemic, however, this daring opening has been employed on several occasions, notably by the World Champion Magnus Carlsen. A faster time-control and perhaps the unusual atmosphere created by online games probably helped some players unleash, from time to time, a marginal opening to surprise their opponents.
Playing the Alekhine on a regular basis is quite demanding, not to say a bit foolish. Not that this provocative opening is bad, but some paths have been established where White can more easily claim a slight advantage out of the opening than against a more classical opening. This also means that the surprise-effect will be greater, particularly at speed-chess, an insufficiently-prepared opponent will find it hard to find the best replies. In this video course we will discuss some fashionable lines, still unexplored 3 or 4 years ago, like the astonishing piece-sacrifice in the well-known Voronezh Variation : 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3 d5 10.c5 e5!? In some correspondence games Alekhine devotees have used the now trendy fianchetto-approach vs 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3, achieving fairly decent results. The impression that White can’t easily extract an opening edge was validated afterwards by over-the-board practice.
• Video running time: 5 hours 17 minutes
• With interactive training including video feedback
• Extra: Model games database & Training with ChessBase apps - Memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels
The Alekhine Defence is a provocative opening. Instead of doing the same as White and establishing a pawn in the centre, Black invites his opponent to chase his knight around the board and set up a broad pawn centre as he wins tempi. This is seen at its clearest in the principled Four Pawns Variation, in which 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 is played. White can point to three central pawns, Black on the other hand has moved his king’s knight from g8 to the apparently unpromising b6.
This opening was not taken seriously until the future world champion Alexander Alekhine (1892–1946) began to play it from 1921 on. It was developed at a time when the old dogmas were being questioned and people were looking for something new. The basic idea, to provoke the creation of a pawn centre which will later be the target of attacks, was very influential and that influence can be seen on many other modern openings.
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