@John

15.Bd2 is better than 15.Be3, and 16.Bxa7 is much better than 16.Bf2. Luther:~"White missed his chance to shorten the game, the game would have been already decided after 16.Bxa7 because of the very strong Nb5"
Black was totally winning at the end but in the beginning of time-trouble Luther was glad to save a draw from a previous lost position, afterwards he realized his big advantage.

tracke

Without speaking for tracke, I seem to recall that his view on the last question is that 7...Qxd4 is crucial (which I guess must be true).

Tracke, which clear win does Luther say White missed in Movsessian-Luther? And does he say why he agreed a draw at the end in a completely winning position - when annotating this game for my book I rather wondered whether the score was actually correct. It did seem to me White was much better in the game, but I'm surprised to hear Luther thinks the story is over.

jcm

Chessbase has edited a new Video-DVD with GM Luther explaining Alekhine´s Defence (~4h30min, only in German). It´s no complete theory but just ~20 commented games. I would call this DVD a sufficient (but not very good) introduction for players 1600-2000 to get the right feeling (6 points out of 10 if you understand German).
Most useful for me were the general assessments of some variations. Discussing Movsesian-Luther (where the 4-pawn-attack with 6...c5 occured) GM Luther says something like: "this variation is no longer acceptable for Black, White should gain a big advantage with 10.d6!, White missed a clear and forced win".

tracke  

PS: I was more glad that Luther confirmed my view of 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 d4! as an easy equalizer (only a statement without any variations given, he discusses a game with 3...Nfd7 4.f4).

I don't think it's true that masters don't play this line; on the contrary Baburin and Luther, both solid GMs and great Alekhine experts, have both played it recently. Bronstein-Ljubo was an amazing game but is no longer a problem since Black discovered Timman's 10...Bb4.

If there is a problem it is 10 d6. Black was busted in Bryson-Luther (try Fritz on the improvements suggested for Black). Luther obviously agrees since on his next outing he introduced the interesting 10...Be6. I predicted in my book that this will be where developments will occur; not much sign of me being proved right so far, but we shall see.

The infamous Argunov Variation! When playing through these lines, why would anyone still care about say the BDG? According to Siebenhaar/Detlef/Ottstadt 6...c4 presents the basic idea of the Aljechin Defence in its purest form.
7.d5 e6 8.Nc3
a)8...Nxc4 fails to 9.Qa4+.

b)8...Qh4+?! 9.g3 Qd4 10.Bd2 Qxe5+ 11.Be2 exd5 12.Nf3 is better for White.

c)8...exd5 9.cxd5 c4 10.d6 (the old main line is 10.Nf3) Nc6 (Be6 or Bf5) 11.Nb5 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qe4+ 13.Qe2 Qxh1 14.Nc7+ Kd8 15.Bg5+ Be7 16.Bxe7+ Nxe7 (so far SDO) 17.Nxa8 unclear. But better might be 14.Bg5!?
c1)14...Nxd5 15.o-o-o Ncb4 16.Bg2 Qxh2 17.Bxd5 wins.
c2)14...f6 15.Nc7+ Kd7 (Kf7 16.e6+ Kg6 17.Be3 or 17.o-o-o) 16.Bh3+ Kd8 17.exf6 Qxg1+ 18.Bf1 Bxd6 19.fxg7+ Kxc7 20.fxh8Q Bd7 21.Qxh7 Nd4  22.Qg2 Re8+ 23.Kd1 Bb4 24.Bd2 and White wins (SDO). This is one of many, many lines and one of the few where Fritz disagrees: Qxg2 unclear.  But Fritz also suggests 22.Be3 Bb4+ 23.Kd1 Nxe2 24.Bxg1 Nxg1 25.Kc2 as better.

d)9...Qh4+ (too early according to SDO) 10.g3 Qd4 11.Bb5+ (11.Bf4!?) Bd7 12.Qe2 Nxd5 13.e6 fxe6 14.Qxe6+ Ne7 15.Nf3 Qf6 16.Qe2 Balasjov-Grigorjan, Riga 1967, a6 17.Nd5 Qd6 18.Bc4 and White is clearly better (SDO). This seems to be true after Bb5 19.Bxb5+ axb5 20.Nc3 and 21.Bf4.

To answer GK's question: compared to the Argunov Variation, the 6.Be3 and 6.Bg5 lines of the Najdorf are very solid.

Hello everyone. 
For many years I play the alekhine defence with success on an amateur level (I am willing to play in Live tournament but the area I live is not very chess active). I play most of the lines of alekhine as black but the one enjoy the most if the following. 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c5. Game follow as 7.d5 e6 and here is where black have set a trap after 8.d6?? Qh5+ following Qe4 and take the rook on h1. Ofcourse black play have to be carefull to not allow white block the queen at the corner and play accurate theory.  If white play 8.Nc3 then black have 8..c4 and 8..Qh5.  Either way I find the opening very satisfactory for black with great winning chances. Did anyone now why that line is abandoned from the master play and everyone consider the 6..Nc6 as the main line? Thanks