The Alekhine Revitalized - Chess Training Software Download

The Alekhine Revitalized (Download)
by Christian Bauer 

The Alekhine (1.e4 Nf6) seldom makes an appearance, particularly at a high level. Nonetheless, amid the pandemic, this audacious opening has surfaced in multiple instances, notably championed by World Champion Magnus Carlsen. The accelerated time-control and the unconventional ambiance of online games likely facilitated certain players in deploying this unconventional opening sporadically, catching opponents off guard with a marginal strategy.

Alekhine Defense

The Alekhine Defense stands as a daring opening choice. Rather than mirroring White's strategy of establishing a pawn in the center, Black opts to entice the opponent into a pursuit of the knight across the board, ultimately compelling them to construct a broad pawn center while conceding tempi. This dynamic is most evident in the principled Four Pawns Variation, where the sequence 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 unfolds. In this scenario, White boasts a trio of central pawns, while Black, seemingly unpromisingly, relocates the king's knight from g8 to b6.

Initially not regarded seriously, the Alekhine Defense gained credibility when future world champion Alexander Alekhine (1892–1946) began employing it from 1921 onwards. Emerging during a period when established doctrines were under scrutiny, the opening signaled a departure toward innovation. The fundamental concept of provoking the creation of a pawn center vulnerable to future attacks proved highly influential, leaving an indelible mark on various contemporary openings.

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