Only Chess
21 Nov 04
22 Nov 04
Originally posted by gambit3Because he,like everybody else at the time,thought it was unsound.
Alekhine did not play the Alekhine's Defence very often. I do not know why. He was a strong enough player, pluss there was no a lot of theory on it at that time. Anybody know why Alekhine did not play the opening a bit more often?
Most people today,still think it's unsound.
22 Nov 04
Originally posted by SirLoseALotA book I read about 1980 said it is resilent. ChessMaster plays the Alekhine's Defence. I have never heard that it is unsound before.
Because he,like everybody else at the time,thought it was unsound.
Most people today,still think it's unsound.
22 Nov 04
Originally posted by gambit3Well,I don't think it's unsound,I play it myself,but most people I've talked to,or overheard talking,about openingtheory,say it's unsound.That's my personal experience.There's this joke about how it originated,Alekhine was playing drunk,his oppo opened 1.e4,but he thought he had played 1.d4 and replied 1...,Nf6 by mistake.That says something about the general view,doesn't it?Also,Nigel Davies had similar experiences.Taken from the introduction to his book 'Alekhine's defense',and I quote: 'The Fischer-Spasski match,was the event that fanned the flames of my intrest in chess.I was 12 years old,and wanted to play like Fischer,but when I asked more experienced players about this funny knight move,they invariably advised me against playing it.Their wisdom was confirmed,when most of the books seemed to agree.This Alekhine Defence was a dubious opening,against which white could easily secure a large advantage' end of quote.He then goes on about what eventually made him change his mind.
A book I read about 1980 said it is resilent. ChessMaster plays the Alekhine's Defence. I have never heard that it is unsound before.
It is safe to say that the general opinion is against the Alekhine,and will be for quite a while longer.What that general opinion is worth,is for to you to decide.
Note however,that the Alekhine has never been proven to be unsound.And it is still being used by a few GM's.I can say,from practise,that it is not the easiest opening to play.
As to why Alekhine himself didn't play it more.Well,we'll never know,what I said was just my guess.
SirLot.
22 Nov 04
Originally posted by lloydkBecause 2.Nc3 allows 2....,e5,transposing into the vienna,and most white players want to punish black for playing the 'weak' 1...,Nf6 🙂
The Davies book is really good.
The most interesting thing I learned reading it was the success of GM Jonny Hector playing White against 1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5. If 2. Nc3 is good for White, why even bother with the other lines.
22 Nov 04
On the Chessgames.com database there are 18 games where Alekhine played the Alehine defense; he won 9, drew 7 and lost 2. Kinda hard to figure why he didn't use it more; although the 20's and 30's Grandmaster chess was dominated by Queen's Pawn openings at least in the Championship matches.
22 Nov 04
2 edits
Originally posted by no1marauderAlekhine also played the Benoni before it was popular. I looked through his books a long time ago, and it seemed he played them mostly against weaker opposition. Haven't looked, but I'll bet he never played either one against Capablanca or Euwe...
On the Chessgames.com database there are 18 games where Alekhine played the Alehine defense; he won 9, drew 7 and lost 2. Kinda hard to figure why he didn't use it more; although the 20's and 30's Grandmaster chess was domina ...[text shortened]... ed by Queen's Pawn openings at least in the Championship matches.
Edit:
OK, I looked...he played Alekhine's against Euwe once and got a draw:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1042406
Also one Benoni (in a radio exhibition match!), but he was lucky to draw that one - a very interesting final postion, no?:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1042406
22 Nov 04
Originally posted by lloydkOf the games on Chessgames.com, 47 in all between Capablanca-Alekhine, Capa only played 1 e4 four times and each time Alekhine answered with The French, FYI. He did play Alekhine's three times against Nimzowitch (losing once) who I wouldn't consider "weak" opposition, although everybody was "weaker" opposition than Capa!
Alekhine also played the Benoni before it was popular. I looked through his books a long time ago, and it seemed he played them mostly against weaker opposition. Haven't looked, but I'll bet he never played either one against Capablanca or Euwe...
Edit:
OK, I looked...he played Alekhine's against Euwe once and got a draw:
http://www.chessgames.c ...[text shortened]... very interesting final postion, no?:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1042406
22 Nov 04
Originally posted by SirLoseALotIs nf6 really considered weak or was that a intentional quote. There are some people who open out of order to throw off the opponent. Using the third then second then first move of an opening out of order. I've done it myself, but purely by accident as I simply did'nt know the proper order. Maybe this opening was designed as a way to open in a different sequence but still transpose to more familiar line. If you used a sort of knight dance it looks like a way to try to trick somone into chasing the knight and overextending the pawn structure early in the game. Maybe alekhine knew one of these masters was weak with an overextended pawn structure and settled for a slower opening in the hope that it would pay off in the middle towards endgame. Does this make any sense at all?
Because 2.Nc3 allows 2....,e5,transposing into the vienna,and most white players want to punish black for playing the 'weak' 1...,Nf6 🙂
Nyxie