The Alekhine is arguably the most forcing and aggressive reply to 1 e4. Black immediately forces the pace and drags the game onto his own favoured territory. This strategy is not without risk, but those who specialize in the Alekhine find that the opening has a real practical sting and quick-strike potential.
This book describes the main positional and tactical themes unique to the Alekhine, and the principal directions of play in modern practice. The coverage is even-handed, and there are abundant ideas presented to both sides, including ways for White to seek to consolidate his space advantage, or else to try to blast Black off the board.
The author, Valentin Bogdanov, has a wealth of experience with the Alekhine, having played it over the course of more than three decades. Moreover, he was active in Odessa chess at the time when the Alekhine was extensively developed by a group of players including GM Semion Palatnik and three-time US Champion Lev Alburt. Thus he provides us not only with the benefit of his own accumulated wisdom, but also with insights gleaned from work with some of the greatest Alekhine devotees of all time.
About the Author
International Master Valentin Bogdanov has over thirty years’ experience as a chess trainer, and is from Ukraine. His pupils include Moskalenko, Savchenko and Drozdovsky, and he has acted as a second for the well-known grandmaster and theoretician Viacheslav Eingorn since the late 1970s. This is his third book for Gambit.
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Review
“…even though some attention is given to sidelines, this is no jungle of variations, or Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings. This is Bogdanov’s third book for Gambit, showing that this quality publishing house trusts the author – and why wouldn’t they? The language is fluent and informative, and the sample games are well chosen and instructive. In usual Gambit style the layout is clear, and there are enough diagrams to peruse the book without a set…” — Marko Tauriainen, Suomen Shakki
“The chapter on the Four Pawns Attack is done well, with all the plans and ideas explained in a coherent way, while White’s sidelines, such as 2.Nc3 and the Chase variation are given just enough respect.” — Munroe Morrison, Open File
“Play the Alekhine! That’s the battle cry from Valentin Bogdanov in his fascinating book published recently by GAMBIT. The first move of the Alekhine for black is 1.Nf6 in reply to 1.e4 by white. It’s provocative and uncompromising and leads to some tremendous positions. The opening bears the name of the fourth world chess champion, Alexander Alekhine. I decidedto test it out on the Internet and enjoyed many wild and wonderful games. ..You would be surprised how many super grandmasters have used this opening. The likes of Short, Carlsen, Ivanchuk, Adams and Nakamura have all employed it. There are some great games as examples in the book and the positional and tactical themes are fresh and playable. It’s not biased towards black however and you will need to analyse ways for white to seek to consolidate the space advantage that this opening affords. It’s brilliant and I love playing this opening for fun. It is well worth adding to your repertoire as a surprise weapon.” — Carl Portman, Defence Focus