How do I crush the Alekhine Defense (1.e4 Nf6)??

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Adriandmen

I am preparing a match for about 3 weeks, and my opponent plays the Alekhine Defense. I only don't know how I can take advantage of it, or have a good attack, center, etc.:

Please help me!!

udinator

Whenever I use this defense, my opponent always uses 2. e5, forcing you to waste a tempo moving the knight.  Try that and then support the pawn with 2. ... d4.  I'm not really comfortable with this defense though, so it may or may not work.

JamieKowalski

Both e5 and Nc3 are fairly common, though Nc3 can quickly trade down to a fairly boring game in my opinion.

The adivce I would give White is don't over-extend yourself, and keep your pawns and pieces well-protected. It's tempting to try to grab tons of space in the center, but the more you grab, the more tenuous it can be.

rooperi

I have someting I play. It's rubbish, but I've won many games with it. My only otb win against a titled player (FM) was with this. Ok, it was a blitz tourney, but still, he's never seen it before....

If you have the b****s, go for it:



udinator

That is probably the most screwed up checkmate every.

Will it really work in real life?

trysts
rooperi wrote:

I have someting I play. It's rubbish, but I've won many games with it. My only otb win against a titled player (FM) was with this. Ok, it was a blitz tourney, but still, he's never seen it before....

If you have the b****s, go for it:

 



That's neat!

jackcrus

I play Alekhine def all the time with black and the most complicated games for me arise after 

and as you see black's kingside is a mess.

The thing is, I guess most players would play 3. .. Ne4

ViktorHNielsen

Jackcrus, that position with bishop on g7 is actual about equal. I once won a game (90+30) as black. And i played it alot in blitz, but then I found out that 1: ... e6!? is more fun.

The problem with Alekhines defence is, that the black player need to know alot of white systems, and white can just use one of these. It is completely white who selects the sound variations, black got some choiches, for example 2: ... Ng8?!. I do play the exchange variation (okay, black can choose 2 variations here), which is pretty easy to play.

I think the best reply is 1: e4! Nf6 2: e5 Nd5 3: d4 d6! 4: Nf3, which is the modern variation.

Remember, in a match your opponent can surprise you, if you know his 1: d4 reply, I do recommend you to play that!

JamieKowalski

jackrus, I play the Black side of that variation all the time without too much of a problem.

ponz111

Your opponent who plays the Alekhine will have an advantage over you as he knows the opening and it will take you [or anyone] quite a while to learn how to play against it...

Do not be surprised if he wins a lot until you start to get the "hang' of this opening.  You can always chicken out and play 1. e4  Nf6  2. Nc3

Arcanus_Lupus

Arguably the best variation for White is the following:



LazyChessPlayer3201

I like to play a line called the Samisch attack 

Adriandmen

Thank you all for your support and help. I have seen some great opening, like the bishop-sacrifice on f7. And the four pawns attack. And the suggestion that I have to look to the agressive games from Nezhmetdinov.

Thank you all for your help and support,

~~ Adriandmen ~~

Adriandmen

I have also found something new. My opponent plays a unusual opening:

Maybe there is some way to punish this opening... Wink

RoyCroft

The sacrifice on f7 is unsound.  Black simply plays g6 instead of h6 at move 8, then the best white can do is get a rook for two minor pieces, and black has the better game.

AKJett

and actually 7...g6 as rooperi plays

Qf7#

Adriandmen

Thank you Pfren for your help. Good to know how to punish stupid openings... Laughing

Grobzilla

1. d4

blake78613

Below is a system I used OTB to combat the Alekhine.  Objectively it leads to an even game, but it was a position I was very familair with as it could transpose into  variations  I reached with the Pirc, French and Caro-Kan.  I had a very high win rate with it.  Generally c1 is very good square for White's ds-bishop and I kept the Bishop on c1 for as long as possible and often its first move was to sac itself on h6.



JamieKowalski
pfren wrote:
Adriandmen wrote:
Maybe there is some way to punish this opening... 

4.d4 seems good enough for a considerable advantage.

3...Nb4 is basically a stupid move, which is best punished by being ignored.

Punishing stupid moves by ignoring them works in many positions. It's great to keep in mind that it's a good option to consider.