The Exchange Variation is one of the most challenging variations an Alekhine player can face, so it makes sense that this line gives you some headache. 5...exd6 is rather solid, but it's hard to play for a win with Black because of the lack of dynamism. 5...cxd6 was always shunned by theory, but Lakdawala in his book (2014) and more recently Kornev (2019) endorse it. They claim that if you put in the work, you'll get rewarded with dynamic play and therefore more chance to play for a win. You could for example study up on it, then play 5...exd6 when you're content with a draw and 5...cxd6 vs lower rated opponents, whom won't be as familiar as you with the new-found intricacies in the line.
Also, even though the Alekhine is playable, it is not a top tier opening for a reason, and that really shows in variations like this when no solution seems 100% fulfilling. Don't worry too much about that, though, considering non-world class players might as well play what they enjoy and feel comfortable with as long as it's not outright unsound.
TLDR you should read into the new developments/discoveries in the 5...cxd6 line, could be very interesting.
Is the alekhine defense just subpar?
Thank you. It actually feels good that I assessed this right. Given the chance, I will play dxe5 and my e and c pawns will remain dynamic, with the chance to play either c5 or e5 without having a weak pawn on d6.
Although white should be a bit better there, I would play that as black.
I actually thought of using the alekhine as my main response to e4. I absolutely hate playing the spanish and also I'd like to avoid all the millions of gambits and traps in blitz after e4 e5.
However, having played a lot of the alekhine in blitz, I've gained enough experience to deem the opening as subpar.
I completely agree with you about cxd6. It seems positionally dubious and I've never played it for that reason but it might be the better practical choice because black gets such a nothing position after exd6 (although solid).
Btw do you recommend g6 and Bg7? I've been playing the standard Bg4 and Be7 stuff. From what I've seen, black tends to go fianchetto in the cxd6 line. e5 break someday maybe?
Yeah it seems to me now that cxd6 is the only serious try. Black might be worse but the position is dynamic whereas with dxc6 black gets no play, although he is "solid".
So what are black's main ideas there? What does he do after castling? I analyzed a bit with the opening explorer and saw some interesting knight maneuvers. I guess I'll analyze a bit more with the engine + opening explorer or I'll go back to 1...e5
This is most likely not the reason. Elite level players are not intimidated by different types of positions and pawn structures owing to being, well, elite players. One example is top GMs trying to go for a dynamic Sveshnikov, but often end up in a manoeuvring game in the Rossolimo. The reason is probably that other openings are simply more reliable, with more margin for (slight) inaccuracies, and much easier equality as Black. Why try and fight for equality with the Alekhine when e5 and c5 are a much easier route to it? Especially the latter also has enough dynamism in it to play for a win.
To answer the OP, yes, comparatively speaking to 1...e5, 1...c5, 1...e6, and 1...c6, the Alekhine is subpar. It is not completely busted and is better than junk like 1...f6 or 1...h5, but you will get worse positions than you would get with any of the 4 moves mentioned previously if your opponent has any idea what he is doing.
If all you are facing is 1300s, you can win with 1...h5, but if you want an opening that will get you good positions when you play someone respectable like a master or expert, you are better off going with one of the main 4 responses.
Btw, sometimes 5...exd6 can provide some chances to play for a win if you get the chance to put pressure on the d4 pawn, like in this following, typical example:
The Alekhine is Sound. It's not easy to play if the player is sub 1500. Even if the player abandon the Alekhine and play different Defense, his winning or losing percentage will be almost the same unless he improves in Tactics, Strategy and Endgame.
Btw, sometimes 5...exd6 can provide some chances to play for a win if you get the chance to put pressure on the d4 pawn, like in this following, typical example:
Yeah, it seems like d5 might be the thematic break in the Alekhine. I just had the following 3+2 blitz game (I was white):
(sorry, I don't know how to annotate games)
Here white has a hefty advantage and I went on to win the game. It seems like the e5 break is often wrong in this opening. Instead, computer likes 10...d5 and after 11. c5 Nc4 12. Bxc4 dxc4 13. Na3 Be6 etc. cites equality. This would never be obvious to me as pawn looks like it's going to be lost shortly.
cxd in the exchange isn't good due to the Voronezh (or something like that)
just advising you to censor your mentions of The Other Site or mods will do it for you
cxd in the exchange isn't good due to the Voronezh (or something like that)
Damn this looks bad for black. I assume white plays Ne4 next with a great position. (possibly Nd5 looks even stronger). I would take white here any day.
Yes. Why do you think that most GM`s do not play it.
Yes. Why do you think that most GM`s do not play it.
GM Alex barburin (I dont think I spelled that right)
GM Nigel Short also used it before
Bent larsen
Robert J Fischer
And Curt Hansen and Magnus Carlsen. The opening is great unless you are playing in the Candidates Tournament. But you have to understand the idea. Its is a contra opening. Like a coiled spring.
The answer to "is this just subpar" is....
Depends...
Depends on the ability of the players. For the 99% of us? Its fine.
I find the Alekhine to be a completely sound opening, but you need to be completely precise for that to be true. It is very easy for white to find the right moves because of how natural they are, but it is much harder for black. However, if black does indeed find those moves in the Alekhine, I believe that it is just as suitable as any other opening.
I've been playing the alekhine defense in blitz lately on another site. I've noticed in the game statistics that I have a bad record with it and to me, this reflects the questionable nature of the opening.
Most people are just able to bust this opening logically, I don't think they even know much theory on it. The most common position I reach is something like this:
Something to this effect. Then I'll usually play Be7, 0-0 etc. This is my first time using this forum so I don't know how to annotate the diagram but the c4 pawn is immune to capture as Qe2+ wins the knight and ...5 cxd6 seems positionally dubious to me. Note that there are variations to this position, it's not always the same. There are many alternative move orders but they all lead to the same or similar position.
It just seems to me that white is better here and I don't see black's compensation for the lack of centre. I've checked many other moves with engines and opening database but none seem to leading for anything good for black if white plays correctly. Maybe I should be playing g6 instead of the mainline Bg4.
Is this about the best you could achieve with the alekhine defense or is there something more to it?