Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alburt Variation

An aggressive opening for Black, the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alburt Variation aims to provoke White's pawn advances and later counterattack.

The opening is named after the former World Chess Champion Alexander Alekhine, who was known for his aggressive and imaginative play. In this variation, Black aims to provoke White into overextending their pawn structure, creating weaknesses that can be exploited later in the game. The Modern Variation is a popular choice among players who prefer a more dynamic and unbalanced position, as it often leads to sharp and complex middlegames.

The Alburt Variation, in particular, is characterized by Black's early fianchetto of the dark-squared bishop, which can help to exert pressure on the central squares and support a potential pawn break with ...c5. This setup can also provide a solid defensive structure, making it more difficult for White to launch a successful kingside attack.

One of the main ideas for Black in this opening is to undermine White's pawn center by attacking it with pieces and pawns, while also looking for opportunities to counterattack on the wings. White, on the other hand, will typically try to maintain their central pawn duo and exploit any weaknesses in Black's position.

Overall, the Alekhine Defense: Modern Variation, Alburt Variation is an interesting and challenging opening choice for players who enjoy sharp, double-edged positions and are not afraid to take risks in order to seize the initiative.