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tp2205 and Tony: thanks
i)
> It seems that White has a choice here between the engine's favorite 12.Qe1 Nb4 13.Rd1 Nc2 14.Qd2 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 (I don't understand yet why this line is given as best) 12. a4 and what I probably would play 12.a3 and 13. b4. You would have to at least come up with solutions to all three of these moves which may be difficult.
I have seen the “engines” evolution concerning this line in the past few years, and in fact noticed, that besides 12.Kh1 and 12.Qd2 (seldom played) these are the 3 moves “liked more” by the engines. Cannot understand either why the engines like 12.Qe1 but it is frequently played (even immediately after 11…f6 which is refuted by 12.d5).
However, recent engines favour 12.a4 a5 13.Qe1 (in place of the “old” but also reasonably good 13.Qb3). The point is that 13…Nb4 (as in the line without a4 a5 inserted) is bad here since the a5 pawn is hanging. The line, usually, goes 13…Bb4 14.Qg3 f6 (or f6 and then Bb4). The interest of this line is that there are two recent ICCF games – Black lost (with players with ELO over 2400, and same player playing Black – Heinz Polsterer). I thought I would never see it, but I was fairly surprised by seeing a player with a very good ELO playing this line. Funny is that a few months ago I left two engines playing variants on this line, and a few games have the same moves as Polsterer’s games until move 24. Not sure, however, the engines moves are better and they save the line (in fact, I think they don’t)
I agree that 12.a3 needs to be analysed well but since I cant come up with anything against 12.a4 …
ii)
> Your analysis extends what I have. I also focussed on 23...Qd7 but since my original goal (get an easy to remember repertoire for my self against the Aljechin), which has since morphed into turning it into a chessable course does not really go well with such deep analysis I am currently looking elsewhere
Agree !!
iii) Concerning 9…Be7, I agree that 15.Kh1 first might be better but does this refute the line?? In fact, another more recent game by H. Polsterer goes 15.Kh1 h6 16.h3 Kh8 (with the slow regrouping that Tony was saying) but apparently, Back was never losing, or am I wrong? Look at also at recent games by Pavlov (ElO over 2400 also) which consistently has been playing the Alekhine in ICCF games.
I also guess that 13.b3 (instead of Qd2) is worth looking at
iv)
>I am making a few Alekhine theory vids for my YouTube channel, I'll try to remember to post them around here somewhere when they go up.
Looking forward to watching this
Two side notes:
v) I guess, the Alekhine “addicts” were pleased by seeing Magnus playing the Alekhine, but somehow I was a bit disappointed by Caruana not going to the main line 4.Nf3. I wanted to see whether Magnus would keep playing the Kengis as he played against Firouza the week before in 5 minute games.
Also, of interest to me, was the fact that Dubov played h6 and not dxe5 in the Alburt line
v) FYI information, Thinkers Publishing are advertising a “Modernized Alekhine” by Christian Bauer (which has written recently, but not still out as far as I know, a “Modernized” 1.e4 Nc6!). This looks interesting – Any forecasts?
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Alekhine: Sergeev variation (Read 27390 times)
