Alekhine's Defence is a chess opening for Black beginning with the moves 1. e4 Nf6 (in algebraic notation). This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... This image is originally from xboard. ... The first moves of a chess game are the opening moves, collectively referred to as the opening or the book. ... Algebraic chess notation is the method used today by all competition chess organizations and most books, magazines, and newspapers to record and describe the play of chess games. ...

The main continuation in modern play is 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2. Among other lines are the Exchange Variation (2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6) and the Four Pawns Attack (2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4). It is these lines which perhaps illustrate the basic idea of the defence best: Black will allow White to make several tempo-gaining attacks on the knight, and also allow an apparently imposing pawn centre to be erected in the belief that it can later be destroyed. This basic strategy makes the opening an example of hypermodernism. This page explains commonly used terms in chess in alphabetical order. ... In chess, Hypermodernism or the Hypermodern School of Thought is a strategy of play which controls the center of the board with distant pieces rather than with pawns, inviting the opponent to occupy the center with pawns which can then become objects of attack. ...

The first prominent player to employ it with Black with any regularity was Alexander Alekhine, who first used it in two games in the 1921 Budapest tournament: one against Endre Steiner (which he won) and the other against Fritz Sämisch (which he drew). Another early exponent of the defence was Ernst Grünfeld. Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine (sometimes spelled Aljechin) (in Russian, Александр Александрович Але́хин), ( October 31 or November 1, 1892 – March 24, 1946) was a chess master, one of the great world chess champions. ...

External links

• Alekhine Game of the Week (http://www.geocities.com/alekhine_gotw/)