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 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.
3. e5 is answered with 3. ... d4
Beyond that point anything can happen
Ogerboy, your success against the exchange variation may be more related to the level of your opponents than the variation's inherent viability. Fischer chose the exchange variation because it was strategically clear and positionally sound. The modern variation is much more complex strategically and therefore more difficult for the developing player to understand. I suggest that the exchange variation is a good way to develop an understanding of the principles of the Alekhine, not that it is inherently better than the modern (or any other variation), just that it is easier to understand and therefore easier to play.
ok i give up lol - not gonna argue with some1 with a rating higher than me
For what it's worth, I personally play the Exchange variation for this reason. Perhaps the Modern variation scores slightly better for White, but I find the Exchange variation to be quite straightforward, which still maintaining an edge.
Having played the Alekhines on and off for a while (since 1990) I have some opinions on this.
A) regarding whites positional superiority in the exchange I would say that it's at least debatable. after ed6 I agree that white has a certain (hard to quantify) edge based purely on slightly more space since the pawn-formations are symmetrical, but after cd6 black definitely has certain things going for him, such as an extra central pawn. I don't consider the exchange to be a threat to the overall soundness of the Alekhines but it is definitely a very healthy choice as white since it guarantee a strategically clear battle where whites chances at least are not worse. A few years ago the "Voronezh variation" (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.ed6 cd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3)
was considered by some to almost be a refutation of the cd6-option, but since then there has been found a few key moves to ensure at least equality for black.The classical/Modern (4.Nf3) or 4-pawns are much heavier to take on and require quite some preparation on whites behalf, but are also tougher to face for black. actually I agree with the quote above where Alburt stated that the Modern is the main (not only) threat to the Alekhines
B) I have altered between 2.--d5, 2.--e5 and 2.--d6 after whites 2.Nc3 and think they are all adequate responses. Admittedly the Pirc option is slightly weird considering that the black payer originally preferred a different defence to 1.e4, but it is all the same a viable option. In my view the "best" is probably 2.--e5 since it enters a very sound opening scheme where white has committed his knight to c3. You would be unlucky to run into a white player being an expert in the Vienna or 4-knights after that sequence, rather most white players are playing 2.Nc3 to avoid theory they don't know.
All in all I think the Alekhines is fun, but the classical/modern is a tough nut to crack, regardless of Topalov - Carlsen!
The only move that you made that is not common is 4...h6, it seems that it is not played often and results appear to be in favor of whites, perhaps someday the GM's of this world will give it a go and find new viable lines of play with the black position, until then you can refer to the usual continuation by reading the following, go to the middle of the page for modern variations at 4. black's move, you may find a continuation that you like, just try 1 or 2 for a while.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alekhine's_Defence
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