Alekhine Defense, Alatortsev Variation

The Alatortsev Variation arises when White answers the pin 4...Bg4 and the follow-up 5...e6 with the direct pawn thrust 6. d5. The advance challenges the e6-pawn at once, before Black has developed the kingside pieces, and it seeks to open lines while the light-squared bishop is committed to g4. Black is to move and must choose how to handle the tension in the center, where the c- and d-files are already half-open.