Alekhine Defense? chess?

Question

What are the advantageous points of the Alekhine Defense?

Doesn't this opening make you less developed than white?

Answer 1

Alekhine's Defence is one of the openings championed by the so-called Hypermodern school of chess - the Grunfeld, Reti, Nimzo and Bogo-Indian are other examples.

The idea behind this type of opening is that by not occupying the centre with pawns, you can lure white forward so that the white position becomes compromised. You can then counter attack and take advantage of the weakened white position.

In Alekhine's Defence you are behind in development but, in the chase variation for example, after your N has been chased to b6 you can chip away at the advanced white pawns. When white has to defend these pawns you can catch up in development.

Alekhine's is not recommended for beginners because White gets a pretty formidable pawn centre from the opening and unless you know how to neutralise it, you can easily be quickly overrun.