The Emory Tate Variation! (Alekhine Defense)

I once played a live game as black, 15 minutes, and as usual I responded to 1. e4 with, you guessed it, Nf6 (I might've done the same had he played d4 or c4). I was hoping for e5 and not something boring like Nc3. My opponent pushes e5, so naturally, Nd5 and I was happy to start with the Alekhine Defense. My opponent responded with c4, a move I find a little less common than d4 when I play this defense, and this forces me to move Nb6 immediately. But the next move I had never seen, and still haven't since December '12. I asked for the name of the variation after the game, but the player ignored me and left; possibly because I won.

However, the reality is I shouldn't have won. I feel move 15. by him was a mistake, among others, and I made plenty more as well. It was a really tough game for me as black, though, and I knew I was getting into trouble after the 5th move, N6d7, which always trouble for me as black in the Alekhine.

The truth is, I've lost quickly because of this move. I'm terrified of fxe6, but I just didn't know what to do after fxe6 c5, and I panicked by moving my horse around too much.

I searched for the name, and found that it's called the "Emory Tate Variation" in the Alekhine Defense. Very cool. I haven't found a single mention about this variation in particular on a chess.com page other than this exact post I made in December in the Alekhine Chess Club, so this is a first on a macro scale . Tell me what you guys think of it?

I tried to keep pressure hoping my opponent would make a mistake after what seemed like a sure loss to me in the opening. Take a look, and comment if you've seen it, played it, or know some tricks in it.

I add some links, for those who would rather see a game without as many mistakes, along with some general info:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1341122 (a fun game by Emory Tate playing his variation)

http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2010/11/18/the-emory-tate-variation/ (General info)

And finally, the game itself:

Hope you enjoyed.

Wow, quite a whacky game!  Nice win.

Black could have just played 4. a5.

Looks like 6...fxe6 should be more than fine for black.  Black can play c5 or g6 and maybe e5 and and he's just up a pawn yes?  Something like 7.d4 g6 8.Nc3 Bg7 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.Ng5 Nf6 11.0-0 0-0.  I don't see how black is worse.

It's a cool looking variation, especially after 4.a4 a5 5.Ra3!? with the idea of coming to g3 with this rook.  I remember seeing an Emory Tate game that continued like that and trying it out, years and years ago.  But, 4.a4 d6! 5.a5 N6d7 and here White must exchange on d6, negating his space advantage, or try 6.e6?! which is speculative after 6...fxe6.

So, this whole line is crap.

It's interesting that it's rarely played, but white has a better win percentage in the database in many lines. Like Greencastle says, white must take (6. exd6), and if white plays the speculative 6. e6 instead, then black has a better win percentage in most lines. I know that databases don't mean a move is right or wrong, but if it was played by them, then I can assume the moves are worth considering. Again, I had been suffocated with knights and queens in a similar position in that corner, so I was scared and didn't play fxe6 when I had the chance.

@greencastle: You mean playing e6 for white is the crap line, right? Because exd6 looks playable for white and black, and most games are wild for both sides of the board.

The whole line.  If White has to take on d6 when challenged by ..N6d7, White might as well be playing the exchange variation 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6.  If it's true what Tarrasch said - that a knight on b6 is always misplaced - why not leave it there?

Maybe in the queens gambit, that is . The exchange variation is much more solid for white when comparing the two. This variation is an attempt to keep the confusion on blacks side.

Why doesn't white play 9. Qf3+

It forces the king to move, gaining a tempo.

Although I do see how it could be a hinderance to developing the knight.

Qf3+ is good, knight can jump to h3 if he wants, but he might not need to, with all the queen side minor pieces coming into play easily and my king in a bad position.

Wow cool, what does Emory Tate play against 1.e4 ?

Lol.

6 ... fxe6 . The N does belong on e5 , but keeping K-side safety is the only real challenge to black in this lines most common forms. g6,Bg7, 0-0(or by hand) ( not always in a row) and hold on tight; the sac's are coming hard and soon, starting on g6. If black can stop the b1-h7 diagonal attack w/ timely Bf5 or trade the pieces white wants to sac ( his K's B&N in that order) black will be rewarded with an unstoppable central P army for the win. Often white will valantly sac piece after piece, for a single inaccuracy is death for black. But I say walk the long and narrow road to glorious victory for black!

 As to 4.a5 , my friend dl_leonine and I had many a club game and disscussion and concluded it was a matter of style. It avoids some of both the dangers and possibilities of the previous paragraph.

But for white to play in the true spirit of this opening he should (while still in the opening , not middlegame) lift Q'sR to 3rd rank for transport and sacrafice against black's kingside.

Why re-invent the wheel when the Classical (1.e4 Nf6?! 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3!) is so strong for White?

To be honest After 4...a5 I really don't see the problem for black. You play the alekhine for one reason and that is to help white in overextending a4 in that aspect is just what you wanna see in that aspect. One does however has to fear 5 a5 so you play it yourself. In the long-term it's easy to predict holes in white's position like b3, b4, d4, f4 and if c4 is moved to c5 d5 too. When playing the alekhine you want your opponent to overextend. If you do not get this than you shouldn't play the alekhine. 

Disagree.  4.a4 d6 looks decent to me.

4...d6 is fine but it's more work and I never really saw how the inclusion of a4 and a5 helped White in the other variations. The b4 square on the other hand can be useful for Black.

In other words you're not afraid to admit your understanding of these positions is totally superficial.  You can count the number of times my knight moves all day if you want.  In fact, I'm going to move it again (the 5th time, for those keeping track at home!) back to its natural position on f6 after your control of e5 evaporates.

A friend of mine who is a NM played Emory Tate in a tournament. Emory was drunk and got disqualified for taking a phone call or something like that.

Why can I so believe that ?