Playing against Alekhine's defence.

For almost the entire time I have been playing chess, which is not really that long, the Alekhine's defence has been a huge hole in my repertoire. I have never taken the time to really study the lines for white, and although I almost never see it over the board or in correspondence, I have been getting stomped by it in blitz. For a while I played Nc3 on the third move to avoid preparation, but that didn't really get me anywhere. I have tried the four pawns attack a bit, but since I don't know the theory really at all I find my center just gets overextended and undermined.

So I am asking for suggestions on what to play against it. I am willing to put in the time to learn theory because I think it will pay off, especially in quick games. I would like to play aggressively if I can, should I look into the four pawns attack some more? I heard it is not that great for white.

Here's a great plan for blitz, don't try it in a long game! This is me against a Fide Master in a team blitz tournament, this guy should wipe me everytime.

ooooh.  well, it's definitely aggressive.

Play 2. Nc3.  It makes for interesting games and will transpose into various openings.  After e5, the game has transposed into a Vienna, where White can aggressively seek the move f4.  If d5, then e5 should go into familiar territory unless Black plays d4 and then the game gets fun!

I was never really a big fan of the Vienna, though I must admit I haven't really tried it much. I just like the idea of developing the kingside first, thats why I always play the ruy lopez in symmetrical king pawn games. I will take a look at it though.

The Vienna is a very viable opening and it scores pretty well.  Most people don't see it very often, so they won't know how to handle it.  Even if they do, you get a promising kingside attack

Not that the Vienna is a bad opening, but unless you're a Vienna enthusiast, you haven't really gained anything -- you've cleverly avoided one unfamiliar opening by playing into a different unfamiliar opening.  Besides, you don't need to resort to transpositional tricks against Alekhine's defense; that needlessly throws away a mild advantage.  Alekhine's isn't really that difficult to play against, it's just a bit intimidating because it's so unusual.

I would recommend looking at the Modern Variation (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3, followed by Be2 etc.) or the Exchange Variation (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6).  Both provide you a nice, comfortable game with easy development and a spatial advantage, without going nuts & overextending your position trying to push Black off the board, or having to worry about extensive theory as in the sharper lines.

Thanks for the ideas. My database shows that the modern variation is quite popular and scores well so I will most likely look into that. I always felt like white should be able to get an opening edge more easily against the Alekhine's defence than more mainstream openings, like the sicilian, but I guess I found black's provocative play to be annoying so I would try to crush him with the four pawns attack, which usually never works for me haha. So I need to resist the urge to build a massive center and just keep things under control I think.

 Could you show me a line in each variation of the Vienna that you believe easily equalizes for Black?

I sure couldn't!  I don't recall playing the Vienna Game a single time in my entire life.  And even if I had, we're talking a pretty decent-sized pile of theory; some of those lines are really hairy.  (Like that crazy Frankenstein-Dracula... hairy... get it?!)

Which is my point.  I'm not trying to demean the Vienna Game, because I DO think it's a better opening than it gets credit for.  But if you're looking for a simple & easy approach to playing against Alekhine's Defense, that's not it -- unless you're already a Vienna player, you've jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Besides, I can't imagine many Alekhine's players are going to oblige you by playing into it with 2...e5.  If they're already into playing something so provocative, I have to think most of them are going to continue down that path with 2...d5 instead.

I do not wish to play any online chess games at the present moment, but would be intrigued as to what lines you are presenting.  I could apply this knowledge to my own games.  I am not necessarily a Vienna enthusiast, but play it on occasion.

Really? Through my (let's face it, pathetic) experience playing the Alekhine's, I believe that the Exchange Variation (is that what its called?) is the least challenging variation for black...

BigTy,

   The Modern Variation of Alekhine's Defense (played by White) represents about 1/2 of all games at master level. 

 I don't think that at all. The exchange variation presents real problems simply because it says to black "I am better positonally and you have no tactics to thwart it" and it is true! Black has to play actively for activity. The most recent try at this recently have been a series of c4 gambiting ideas from black other then that whites plan is a simple one.

The Modern Variation is what masters believe to be the most difficult challenge for black. Lev Alburt, long devotee of the Alekhine's defense, said so himself that Modern Variation is the real test of the Alekhine's Defense in Chess Openings for Black Explained.

hm... perhaps all those games in which i get a quite easy position from the Exchange Variation must be because luck is on my side!? lol

WOW~! intense! thanks for the post!

 No this is because your opponants simply misplayed the opening or you possess amazing skill beyond that of thousands of grandmasters that have been beaten by the exchange variation of the alekhines (i think it is about 69% win rate for white but don't quote me on that).

I almost always play Alekhine and I can confirm that I will never ever answer 2. Nc3 with 2. ... e5 but with d5.

Just as you said: someone who likes playing Alekhine is likely to be an agressive, provocative player. In other words: someone who won't settle with a simple Vienna game.

Wouldn't 2... d5 deprive the knight of the obvious square after 3 e5? Just asking, I'm not an expert at this.