Forever Chess Games
Famous gamesPrintsGiftsHow it works
Create yours

Forever Chess Games

Every chess game draws a picture.

Shop

  • Prints
  • Posters
  • Framed posters
  • Canvas
  • Metal
  • Custom chess art
  • Create yours
  • How it works

Games

  • Top 100
  • Famous games
  • World Championships
  • Greatest rivalries
  • All games
  • Players
  • Openings

Eras: 1880s · 1960s · 1990s · 2020s

Gifts

  • Gift ideas
  • Christmas
  • For him
  • For her
  • Personalised

Help

  • FAQ
  • Shipping and returns
  • Contact
  • Terms
  • Privacy
© 2026 Forever Chess Games, part of Merge Conflicted. Developed by Adam Richardson. support@mergeconflicted.com
  1. Home
  2. /Openings
  3. /Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation (B04)
B04

Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation

Key moves: 1.e4 Nf6

Alekhine's Defence provokes White's centre pawns to advance, then attacks them. Black invites White to overextend, creating targets for counterplay. It's a provocative and aggressive choice.

History & Notable Players

Named after Alexander Alekhine, the fourth World Champion, who introduced it in 1921. Bobby Fischer also used it occasionally.

Top Players in this Opening

Carlsen,M36 gamesKamsky,G24 gamesGrischuk,A24 gamesLarsen, Bent24 gamesLjubojevic, Ljubomir15 gamesTimman, Jan H14 gamesDuda,J14 gamesMamedyarov,S14 gamesNepomniachtchi,I14 gamesNakamura,Hi13 games

Related Openings

B00 - Borg Defense814B01 - Scandinavian Defense1028B02 - Alekhine Defense181B03 - Alekhine Defense264B05 - Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Main Line129B06 - Modern Defense1745B07 - Pirc Defense1059B08 - Pirc Defense: Classical Variation647B09 - Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack391

Best Games

Dominguez Perez,L vs Nepomniachtchi,I0-1
Saint Louis Blitz 2024 2024Notable
Anand,V vs Nakamura,Hi1-0
5th Zurich Opening Blitz 2016Notable
Grischuk,A vs Kamsky,G0-1
40th Olympiad Open 2012Notable
Kramnik,V vs Ponomariov,R1-0
Tal Memorial Blitz 2008Notable
So,W vs Ramirez,Alej1/2-1/2
WCh-Junior 2008Notable
Anand,V vs Carlsen,M1-0
Amber Blindfold 2008Notable
Karjakin,Sergey vs Carlsen,M1-0
Amber Rapid 2008Notable
Anand,V vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
Amber Blindfold 2008Notable
Najer,E vs Mamedyarov,S1-0
WCC 2005Notable
Adams,Mi vs Nakamura,H1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Smirnov,P vs Aronian,L0-1
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Polgar,Ju vs Short,N1/2-1/2
Olympiad 2002Notable
Topalov,V vs Ivanchuk,V1/2-1/2
Amber Rapidplay 2002Notable
Ponomariov,R vs Ivanchuk,V1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO Final 2002Notable
Ljubojevic, Ljubomir vs Ivanchuk, Vassily1/2-1/2
Amber-blind 7th 1998Notable
Kasparov, Gary vs Adams, Michael1-0
Linares 14th 1997Notable
Aronian, Levon vs Lurie, Michael1-0
Wch U14 1996Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Adams, Michael1-0
PCA-Wch Candidats sf2 1994Notable
Anand, Viswanathan vs Timman, Jan H1-0
Linares 1992Notable
Short, Nigel D vs Timman, Jan H1-0
Tilburg 1991Notable

Explore More

All OpeningsAll Players