Alekhine defence

Alekhine's Defence is a chess opening beginning with the moves

1. e4 Nf6

Alekhine's Defence is named after Alexander Alekhine who first used it in two games in the 1921 Budapest tournament, one against Endre Steiner^[1] and the other against Fritz Sämisch^[2]. Another early exponent of the defence was Ernst Grünfeld. Its popularity waxes and wanes, and currently is not very common. Its current highest rated proponent is Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk, although Grandmaster Lev Alburt has done much to promote it. The opening is considered hypermodern because Black provokes White to attack Black's knight and occupy the centre with his pawns, hoping to prove that White's imposing mass of pawns in the centre (which often includes pawns on c4, d4, e5, and f4) is in fact weak.

I give all credit to wikipedia.com

i use it in a regular basis.

fun for blitz games, but if white knows the theory he will certainly get a slight advantage where he can work on, if you don't believe me you can ask a 2040 Nrated player who tried it against me in otb team match. Mmm...the highest rated player i've ever won against...

it's considered sound but it's probably the most dangerous hypermodern opening there is for black.

I'm considering adding this to my options against 1: e4

But I'd need a good book, any suggestions?

Are you sure that position is evaluated as better for white?

I have a book on this OPening, but its called the Petroff, not Alekhines Defence, i wonder why? I havnt read it yet, so i still play c5 or c6 against e4, but i would like to learn this :-)

No, the Petroff is different.

Petroff
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6

Alekhine
1. e4 Nf6

aah yes ozzie, sorry, my mistake :-))

black could try 4.. ke6 to keep the knight by defending it with the king if white checks black.

My sixth sense tells me that black's position is lost after ...Ke6 in that variation. But Rybka would know for sure.

    I played Alekhine's Defense in the 1970's with some success at my level.  A friend, Chesskia who is a 2150 player said, "Alekine's Defense is better than it's reputation".  I believe that.  Don't know how it is being played these days.  If it is not seen here very often in games that is an advantage for Black.

    Obviously White does maintain a spacial advantage in the Four Pawns and Modern Variations.  Black sometimes has the option of castling queenside.  The essense is that black needs to keep his position from becoming too cramped, although White may try to force things and lose a central pawn. 

     If 1.e4  1.Nf6   2.Nc3...........best is 2.d5  a Scandianavian Defense - or Black can choose the Four Knights' Game instead after 2.Nc6 

     I used to play both the Grunfeld Defense and Alekhine's defense because they do share the common idea of striking back at White's central pawns.

     For a book on Alekhine's Defense I would go to POWELL'S BOOKS online, if you are living in America. 

a tip to beginners -  in 1 min games, alekhine as black works like a beast and wins a second from white's surprise! =)

The krejick variation posted above is incorrect here is the correct line where black has all the chances.

Interesting - thanks for posting

it's good to see different types of defense and what of problem can happen if you're not too careful!

ehighley! what's happening!

from the white side then? Is it harder to crack than the Caro? :-)

I've been thinking about adopting the Alekhine as a secondary defense to e4, that's why I'm asking. I play one broadly similar line (in 1 0 haha) against d4

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 o-o 5. Nf3 c6?! 6. Be2?! (6. e5!) d5!