Alekhine Defense

The Alekhine Defense was featured in a previous post (Adams vs. Kline). The following game again illustrates the capability of the opening to provide avenues of attack for aggressive players.

NIGMADZIANOV vs. KAPLIN
USSR 1977
Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation

1. e4. Nf6
2. e5, Nd5
3. d4, d6
4. Nf3, Bg4
5. Be2, c6
6. c4, Nb6
7. Nbd2, N8d7
8. Ng5!, Bxe2
9. e6!! ....

Threatening mate at f7.






9. .... f6
10. Qxe2, fxg5
11. Ne4, Nf6

If 11....h6. then 12. Qh5+ mate.

12. Nxg5, Qc7

Black avoids a fork by the White Knight and creates an escape square for his King.

13. Nf7, Rg8
14. g4!, h6
15. h4, d5

Black hoped to free his Queen, but it was not to be.

16. c5, Nc8
17. g5, Ne4

Black correctly avoided 17....hxg5, 18. hxg5 allowing White to activate his h1 Rook.

18. gxh6, gxh6
19. Qh5, Nf6
20. Nd6+!!, Kd8

The Knight cannot be captured because of the double-check.

21. Qe8+!!!, Resigns

A dazzling finish reminiscent of medieval times. If Black's Knight captures the Queen, then White's Knight mates with 22. Nf7+.

Alekhine's Defense

Alekhine's Defense was named after Alexander Alekhine, who introduced it in the 1921 Budapest Tournament.  It begins with the opening 1. e4, Nf6.

This opening runs counter to the tenets of the classical school, allowing the Knight to be driven away about the board in the early stages of the game, in the expectation that White will create a weakness in its central pawn structure.  White's imposing mass of pawns in the centre often includes pawns on c4, d4, e5, and f4. Grandmaster Nick de Firmian observes, "The game immediately loses any sense of symmetry or balance, which makes the opening a good choice for aggressive fighting players."

ADAMS vs. KLINE
Des Moises, 1950

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

In the opinion of the author, this is the best way to solidify White's central pawn structure.

5. ..... dxe5
6. fxe5, g6
7. Be3, Bg7

Black plan is to undermine White King's Pawn with .....c5, but it does not take account the possible tactical complications.

8. Nc3, c5

Black should have castled first at this point to safeguard the King against unpleasant eventualities.

9. d5 .....

Comparatively best for Black now is 9. ..... Bxe5, 10. Bxc5 etc., although the prospects for his Knights would have been rather poor.

9. ..... Qc7

Black is too ambitious; he wants to win White's King Pawn without parting with his own Queen Bishop Pawn.  White immediately seizes on the opportunity to create favorable complications.

10. d6!, exd6
11. Nb5!, Qe7
12. Nxd6+, Kf8
13. Nxc8!, Nxc8
14. Bxc5!!, Resigns

For if Black captures the Bishop, White replies with 15. Qd8 mate.  Black has been made to pay a heavy price for his faulty plunge into tactical complications before safeguarding his King.

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