Chigorin Defense, Main Line, Alekhine Variation
- 1.d4d5
- 2.c4Nc6
- 3.Nf3Bg4
- 4.Qa4
No game statistics for this position yet.
Sideline of the Chigorin Defense main line in which White plays 4. Qa4, pinning the c6-knight to the king in reply to Black's ...Bg4 pin.
Train it in TheoriaAbout the Alekhine Variation
The Alekhine Variation answers the Chigorin main line's pin with a counter-pin. 4. Qa4 places the queen on the open a4–e8 diagonal, where it pins the c6-knight against the black king. That knight is the piece guarding e5 and bearing down on d4, so tying it up weakens Black's pressure on the d-pawn and makes Ne5 more feasible. It is a rarer choice than 4. cxd5, 4. Nc3 or 4. e3.
Popular continuations
No continuations known for this position yet.