The Alekhine Revitalized

by Christian Bauer

Download for Windows PC

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!?, etc. 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, and training with ChessBase apps - memorize the opening repertoire and play key positions against Fritz on various levels

Introduction Sidelines for   The Alekhine Revitalized

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5, with 2nd and 3rd move alternatives
3.Nc3 Nxc3 4.bxc3
3.c4 Nb6 4.a4 and 4.c5 Nd5 5.Nc3
Four Pawns Attack: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4
5...dxe5 6.fxe5 g6 and 6...c5 7.d5 g6
5...g6
Exchange Variation: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6
5...exd6
5...cxd6 6.d5 and 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bd3 Bg7 8.Nge2
5...cxd6 6.Nf3 and 6.Nc3
Voronezh Variation: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7
Deviations before 9...e5
8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3: 9th move alternatives
9...Bf5
Endgame after 9...e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Qxd8 Rxd8
Modern Variation: 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6
5.Ng5
5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7, with 7th move alternatives and earlier deviations
5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Qe2 and 7.0-0
5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Ng5 e6 8.f4 dxe5 9.dxe5
5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Ng5 e6 8.f4 dxe5 9.fxe5
5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Ng5 e6 8.Qf3
Exercises 1-25

Languages: English
Level: Advanced, Tournament player, Professional
System: Windows 10 or higher, Mac OS X (only download)
Streaming: for iPad & tablet
Delivery: Download
Published: Jun 2023