Alekhine's Defense

I hope I can spark some interest in this opening for black by this post and I would like to know how often players are seeing these series of moves. I know it isn't played by the big GM people and I'd personally like to know why. I think this is fun and maybe I could bring it back into the light for a lot of players out there. 

Alekhine's defense proceeds with the following moves: 

There are three main variations I know for this opening: The four pawns attack, Modern, and exchange. I will show these in the order I stated them. 

Also I am aware there is a Wikipedia page about all of this online. Don't just grab something from there, I want actual games and experience shown here. Have you ever played this?

It breaks opening principles. Keek.

Have you ever played this?

I only play it in bullet because most people hang their pawn.

I have played it about 50 times. Really like it. I have actually seen the normal variation in play a few times and one guy did a bishop sac on f7 after I did nb6. It was really fun.

Black plays dxe5 and he is practically equal.

Most of the time I fianchetto the king bishop. I always get out with the healthier pawn structure and sometimes, especially in the exchange variation where I always capture back with the c-pawn, I can win a pawn due to the pressure. Most of the time my opponents get so shocked they play the Scandinavian variation and we both push our pawns and it goes into that crazy game where black lost his e-pawn for the g-pawn.

Black almost always gets a great share of play directed towards the queenside while white gets kingside play.

It's not viable OTB at my level because it is too drawish if white plays conservatively.

I don't know what the problem with it is otherwise. I always play with it against higher levels and its doing good for me.

That OTB level thing... Priceless. Lol.

I think it's because:

- 4.Nf3 is a safe advantage for White in all lines

- White has a lot of ways to play that are effective against it and GMs don't like giving White so many options against a defense.

penandpaper's first point makes sense. Second one... Not so much.

Nice game - and a good example of why you shouldn't fight with one arm tied behind your back.White developed three Q-side pieces by move 8 then played mostly with pawns or repeating piece moves. By move 20 Black had all his pieces fully mobilized while White had three sitting on original squares including an exposed K.

Wow thanks for the game. This will definitely help. 

Thank you, I will.