Jan-02-08
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| ganstaman: An Alekhine's Defense player with a forum and no kibitzing yet?! Well, since the gameknot tournament is going on, you may not want to reveal this yet (I'm not sure if it really matters, but just in case, I'll understand), but I'm curious if you have anything to add to my concerns over this line: 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. Ng5
click for larger viewOpening Explorer I asked the question on the page: Alekhine's Defense, Modern (B04) some time ago. The answer was basically, "Don't fear it, it's ok for black!" And while the source is to be trusted (have you seen his site: http://www.geocities.com/alekhine_g...) I wouldn't mind another opinion, if you don't mind giving it. This is the line that made me give up Alekhine's Defense, but I want to be able to give it a second chance. Have you run into this yet? |
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Jan-06-08
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| Buddy Revell: Hi, <ganstaman>! Sure, no problem talking about that line at all! Haven't run into it yet and I don't think I ever will. I'll tell you why. Even though I decided to take up on Alekhine's only a few months ago, I followed some recommended lines right from the start. My first reference was a <Foxy Openings> video on Alekhine's Defense, by <Chris Dunworth>. He recommended the <Kengis Variation>, with 4...dxe5, 5...g6 and so on. And that's what I've been playing, even though I tried a different move order, with 5...c6 first, but it transposes to the same setup. The key move is <4...dxe5>. It makes a lot of difference. Take a look at the position after 7.O-O and compare it with your diagram. 
click for larger viewA few moves later, you can get this:
click for larger viewLooks a lot more comfortable than the line you mentioned, doesn't it? =) I've seen the discussion about that line, and also <ksadler>'s reply (yes, I know his website). Black may be ok, objectively speaking, but I think they can do better with this 4...dxe5 line. By the way, before recommending it, Dunworth talks about that position you showed me, and he says that Black has some problems with development. And, indeed, if you look at Black's replies to 7. g5, each move has a drawback. For instance: <7...e6> shuts off the LSB;
<7...d5> does block the diagonal, but softens the pressure on e5;
<7...O-O> allows the annoying 8.e6. No wonder you were concerned with that line. I wouldn't like to defend that position either! =P I remember <ksadler> mentioned the setup I'm suggesting here, but seeing the diagrams above may give you something to consider. Those positions are from the following game, which was shown in the video as an example of a successful opening strategy. Adams vs S Agdestein, 1994
If this post inspires you to give the Alekhine's a second chance, I'll be flattered! =D |
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Jan-08-08
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| ganstaman: Well, I think you can feel flattered if you want. Before, I had other defenses to try so I could leave the Alekhine's over this 1 variation. But I think I've covered all the ones I want to try so I guess I just needed someone to tell me it was ok to go back to the Alekhine's. If you want to know why (and to attract conversive visitors perhaps!): I play the French now. As much as I've tried, I can't get myself to love the exchange variation. It's too different a game where finding a real advantage seems to rely too much on your opponent handing it to you. And in the other variations that I first fell in love with (like my favorite, the MacCutcheon), things can get so closed off that it's near impossible for either side to make progress. I think this has to do with the type of imbalance the French creates. It gives white lots of kingside space and black lots of queenside space. So both sides can 'succeed' in pushing their advantages since they are not mutually exclusive. Or, one side can give up on forcing things down their end and turn towards completely blockading on the other side. I've had 2 relatively recent and short draws like this. With the Alekhine's, on the other hand, I don't see it like this. The imbalance is of a different nature -- white gets lots of central space while black gets active pieces to hit at these central targets. The way I see it, both white and black can't really succeed here; white can't hold his central advantage while black simultaneously destroys white's center. So there's more clash, more open battling. I don't see anyone earning a draw here without first withstanding some real complications (in the French, many of the complications can just sit below the surface, waiting for you to abandon one of side of the board before causing commotion over there). |
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Jan-12-08
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| brankat: An effective way to avoid complications arising from some of the Alekhine lines, is to play something other than <1. e4 Nf6> :-) |
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Feb-17-08
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| iscu two: thanks so much! that's loads of help. cheers. |
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| May-23-08 |
| Rod Serling: Hi Buddy yes an excellent episode! 'To Serve Man', Bon Appetit! : P |
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Sep-06-08
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| Artar1: <We need your vote in our Battle of the Brains2 game. Can you vote right now? The team needs you. Thanks!> |
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Dec-18-08
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| al wazir: Congratulations. You couldn't have been more than seconds ahead of me. |
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Dec-18-08
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| Buddy Revell: <al wazir> Thanks! =) |
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Wish I could see their faces after 17...Rg7. =)
