Alekhine's Defense - Concepts and Quick Theoretical Overview

In this video I give a brief overview of the history and lore of Alekhine's Defense, why you'd want to give it a punt as Black, as well as a quick tour of the main variations. As usual, if you dig it - like, subscribe and smack that bell before you flag on my next video!

Intro: 00:00
First Moves and Conceptual Idea: 02:54
Funny Lore and History: 12:04
Exchange Variation: 14:35
Four Pawns Attack: 28:35
Classical Variation: 39:29
Lesser Tries: 51:45
Outro: 59:32

PS - An extra shoutout (again) goes to my buddy AntonSquaredMe for fixing the video. I left the title as "Theoretical Developments in the Yugoslav Attack" and recorded the full hour before I realized it. He's the real deal! *face palm*

[t.alexanderlystad]

1 hour TonyRo video. I'd pay for this! I''m not gonna. Until we meet. That's a threat.

[soakedbearrd]

Definitely one of the best Alek videos, from a player that has used it for years as his main reply to e4.

[solomonbaron]

Fantastic video. Loved the analysis on the Four Pawns Attack.

[rbt]

What almost always works in bullet games is this trick (as black): 1. e4 1...Nf6 2.e5 2...Nd5 3. d4 and NOW wait for 1.5/2 seconds and play 3... Ne3. Most people playing White premove c4 or Nf3 (as it would be the normal move after 3. d6), and lose their Queen on d1.

[ScottTK]

Great stuff, Tony!
As someone who has employed 2.Nc3 on more than one occasion without being a Vienna player, my only reasoning is that maybe I’m causing black to go “ugh, you’re one of those” and make them a little less excited about the game.
Merry Christmas, dude!

[thelazymanatee]

I love this. I play the Alekhines in blitz and rapid quite often, nice to have such a good overview of it!
I face the 2.Nc3 line surprisingly often as well, seems like a significant amount of people don't want to play the Alekhines as white, which is odd to me.
Have a good christmas weekend Tony! And a good new years too if you don't upload anything in between :D

[lovethegame]

He did it!!!! The legend. Thanks so much ❤️

[thomasandreasparpoulas]

Really, really good stuff here. I was interested in this opening today and practiced with a 2600 bot and got my first draw against it after watching your video halfway. The resrt is quite much to memorize so I will have to go at it again and again until I learn most of the Alekhine Defense lines.

[bwgolem]

Your videos are always so good. Thanks for your great effort!

[NihilSubSole]

Thanks Tony, always a pleasure to hear your insights! A few questions: can we hope for a brief Kalashnikov update (if you think it'd be useful)? What do you think about the recent chessable course on the Kalashnikov by King? And last one: would you still recommend 3...Nf6 against the Rossolimo?

Thanks a ton!!!

[Fowzi__Al-somali]

For my case (lower rated) such opening is not recommended, I think, we need to play in the center and develop the peaces.

[DanielDugovic]

I think what I'm hearing is that if I play this opening, I'll find opening theory addictive and purchase hundreds of books.

[Policechess]

Alekhine defense is the best against e4

[mrengler]

regarding the vienna. is there a way on lichess to see what moves white plays from that move order? the opening explorer looks at the position so it's weighted heavily by vienna players. i am curious what white usually plays at the amateur level from the alekhine move order.

[Schnebbler]

Nice video! Are you a Lichess employee?

[lovethegame]

By the way, have you been working out? You're looking fit and healthy!

[Trexalekosdragoon]

You won’t believe the mountain of bodies I’ve caught with this

[danielkratz]

New chess videos from tony g make life better