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71_My_Alekhine's_Block
Compiled by whiteshark
--*--

What is Alekhine's Block?
= = = = = = = = = = = =

< Alekhine's block is

< a chess combination

< with a piece sacrifice

< (Knight, Bishop, Rook, or Queen)

< on the 6th rank (3rd for Black).

>>>>>

It's used for the first time by the former world champion Alexander Alekhine in 1910 (--> Alekhine vs V Ostrogsky, 1910 and here: --> Alekhine vs Gutkevich, 1910).

The idea is to physically restrict, or block the enemy pawn in front of the attacking piece (thus Alekhine's "block"). As Nimtzowitsch put it, <"First restrain, then blockade, finally destroy!">

This tactical device is just one implementation of the general strategic principle we need to follow in chess (see a previous post on restriction). Actually, in both, attack and defense, we want to put the brake on the enemy pieces and reduce their fighting potential either to attack our army, or withstand our attack being in progress. We want our pieces to stay unrestricted, or break free if restrained (there are several ways that we may restrict the freedom of movement of pieces and we will cover them in upcoming posts).

https://www.ichess.net/2011/11/26/w...

see also: Game Collection: Alekhine's Block - related book: http://www.amazon.com/Alekhines-Blo...

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A dialogue: ...

frank124c: <whiteshark> I beg to differ if u don't mind. "Alekhine's Block is the sacrifice of a piece on the 6th--or 3rd--rank, near the castled King, the idea being to break up the enemy's castled position and to block his defense at the same time." I am quoting now from my own website at: http://mysite.verizon.net/webmaster...

Why is this not an Alekhine's Block? What is ur definition? I would like to hear from other readers as well--is this or is this not an Alekkhine's Block?

= - = -
<frank124c> I've check in Charushin's book, and you are right.

However, I'll take the liberty to (re-)define <my <Alekhine's block>> more restrictive as a non-taking, blockading move.

--> <here>

Peace!

Short vs A Zhigalko, 2004

Order nos.:
100 <square h6> 200 <square g6> 300 <square f6> 400 <square e6>

Order nos.:
100 <square h6> 110 Qh6
120 Rh6
130 Bh6
140 Nh6

200 <square g6> 210 Qg6
220 Rg6
230 Bg6
240 Ng6

300 <square f6> 310 Qf6
320 Rf6
330 Bf6
340 Nf6

400 <square e6> 410 Qe6
420 Re6
430 Be6
440 Ne6

20.Qh6! (1:0)
Janowski vs Saemisch, 1925 
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 20 moves, 1-0

50.Qh6! (1:0)
Carlsen vs Karjakin, 2016 
(B54) Sicilian, 50 moves, 1-0

23. Qh6!! (1:0)
I Rabinovich vs V Goglidze, 1939 
(E48) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5, 23 moves, 1-0

17.Qh6!
A Ostapenko vs S Kurkin, 1970 
(B82) Sicilian, Scheveningen, 30 moves, 1-0

39...Rh3!! (0:1)
G Liu vs C Li, 2011 
(B07) Pirc, 39 moves, 0-1

17. Bh6
Jobava vs Ponomariov, 2016 
(A45) Queen's Pawn Game, 21 moves, 1-0

15. Bh6!
Carlsen vs Vachier-Lagrave, 2015 
(A05) Reti Opening, 54 moves, 1-0

14. Bh6!
Alekhine vs Gutkevich, 1910 
(C01) French, Exchange, 17 moves, 1-0

18. Bh6
Kasparov vs Short, 2001 
(C07) French, Tarrasch, 24 moves, 1-0

21.Bh6!
A Anastasian vs F Izeta Txabarri, 1996
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 22 moves, 1-0

15.Bh6!
Ragozin vs Boleslavsky, 1942 
(B15) Caro-Kann, 19 moves, 1-0

17.Bh6!
S Fazekas vs G Nagy, 1913 
(C83) Ruy Lopez, Open, 23 moves, 1-0

20. Nh6+!
von der Lasa vs Anderssen, 1845 
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 21 moves, 1-0

17.Nh6+
A S Rasmussen vs V Dragnev, 2015
(E04) Catalan, Open, 5.Nf3, 23 moves, 1-0

16. Nh6+
Tal vs Smyslov, 1959 
(B10) Caro-Kann, 26 moves, 1-0

14.Nh6+! (15.Bxh7)
Alekhine vs Tartakower, 1927 
(B15) Caro-Kann, 26 moves, 1-0

19...Nh3+!! (0:1)
M Shereshevsky vs Kupreichik, 1976 
(D05) Queen's Pawn Game, 19 moves, 0-1

34.Nh6+
H Pfleger vs K Langeweg, 1978
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 39 moves, 1-0

25.Nh6+ gxh6 26.gxh6+ Kh8
L Moroni Jr vs D Wagner, 2022 
(A30) English, Symmetrical, 39 moves, 1-0

23... Qg3 !!! (0:1)
S Levitsky vs Marshall, 1912 
(B23) Sicilian, Closed, 23 moves, 0-1

23.Qg6!!
Rossolimo vs P Reissmann, 1967 
(C54) Giuoco Piano, 24 moves, 1-0

20.Qg6!! (1-0)
Alekhine vs Supico, 1941 
(C21) Center Game, 20 moves, 1-0

16. Bg6!
H Vogel vs L Ptacnikova, 2007
(A46) Queen's Pawn Game, 19 moves, 1-0

16. Bg6!!
Fressinet vs N Brunner, 2011 
(D47) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 23 moves, 1-0

25.Bg6
Alekhine vs Rubinstein, 1923 
(D64) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox, Rubinstein Attack, 32 moves, 1-0

16.Bg6!!
E Berg vs Bareev, 2005 
(C11) French, 32 moves, 1-0

18. Ng6
Carlsen vs S Ernst, 2004 
(B18) Caro-Kann, Classical, 29 moves, 1-0

24.Ng6!!
P Popovic vs D Kosic, 1992 
(B17) Caro-Kann, Steinitz Variation, 25 moves, 1-0

30.Ng6+ / 32.Qh6+!!
N Popov vs A Novopashin, 1979 
(D45) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 32 moves, 1-0

22. Rf6!! - first block ever?!?
Alekhine vs V Ostrogsky, 1910 
(D00) Queen's Pawn Game, 24 moves, 1-0

28...Qf3!! (#3)
G Andruet vs Spassky, 1988 
(E11) Bogo-Indian Defense, 28 moves, 0-1

31. Rf6 gf6 31.ef6 (Sargnagel)
G Jones vs Goryachkina, 2016 
(A13) English, 35 moves, 1-0

16. Rf6
Alekhine vs R O'Malley, 1924 
(C27) Vienna Game, 27 moves, 1-0

27. Rf6!! / 29. Ng6!!
Marshall vs Spielmann, 1925 
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 41 moves, 1-0

23.Rf6!
J N Sugden vs Keene, 1963  
(A50) Queen's Pawn Game, 32 moves, 1-0

20.Rf6!!
V Gashimov vs B Lalic, 2007 
(C42) Petrov Defense, 25 moves, 1-0

19.Rf6!!
Fischer vs Benko, 1963 
(B09) Pirc, Austrian Attack, 21 moves, 1-0

21...Rf3!
Benko vs Suttles, 1964 
(B06) Robatsch, 35 moves, 1-0

21.Rf6!!
R Soffer vs Fritz, 2000 
(A04) Reti Opening, 25 moves, 1-0

30.Rf6! 1:0
I Sokolov vs T Beerdsen, 2018 
(E48) Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5, 30 moves, 1-0

23... Rf3 ················· It was all a trick.
B Wong vs G Mphungu, 2016 
(D00) Queen's Pawn Game, 24 moves, 0-1

17...Rf3!!
S Bartha vs G Kluger, 1979 
(A40) Queen's Pawn Game, 30 moves, 0-1

12.Bf6!! +-
A Kohler vs G Antal, 2012 
(A48) King's Indian, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2

20. Bf6!
S Savchenko vs Smagin, 1992 
(D37) Queen's Gambit Declined, 27 moves, 1-0

22.Bf6
P Popovic vs M Lazic, 1993 
(C92) Ruy Lopez, Closed, 29 moves, 1-0

17. Bf6!!
Lenderman vs S Zierk, 2012 
(B10) Caro-Kann, 21 moves, 1-0

25...Bf3
Milov vs Karjakin, 2014 
(E46) Nimzo-Indian, 32 moves, 0-1

21.Bf6!!
Grischuk vs V Genba, 2011 
(D39) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin, Vienna Variation, 22 moves, 1-0

23. Bf6!
Fischer vs Myagmarsuren, 1967 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 31 moves, 1-0

15.Bf6!
R Byrne vs L Evans, 1965 
(B97) Sicilian, Najdorf, 36 moves, 1-0

21...Bf3
G Machate vs Spielmann, 1927 
(A31) English, Symmetrical, Benoni Formation, 28 moves, 0-1

Bf3 14.Bf4 Qg4 15.Bg3 Nh5 16.Nxc5 Nf4 17.Nxe4 Qh3 18.gxh3 Nxh3#
O W Field vs O Tenner, 1922 
(C58) Two Knights, 18 moves, 0-1

19...Nf3+!! (insanely deep)
Chandler vs Speelman, 1985 
(B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 30 moves, 0-1

16. Nf6+!
G Neumann vs Zukertort, 1864 
(C51) Evans Gambit, 18 moves, 1-0

16. Nf6+
Naiditsch vs T T Hoang, 1998 
(C14) French, Classical, 23 moves, 1-0

21. Nf6!!
C H Alexander vs Szabo, 1947 
(B85) Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical, 26 moves, 1-0

19. Nf6+!!
J Foltys vs E Book, 1936 
(D39) Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin, Vienna Variation, 21 moves, 1-0

18. Nf6+
Spassky vs Y Nikolaevsky, 1963 
(D27) Queen's Gambit Accepted, Classical, 25 moves, 1-0

18...Nf3+
V Antonov vs J Banas, 1977 
(B57) Sicilian, 22 moves, 0-1

18.Ndf6+! / 21.Rxe6!!
F J Sanchez Guirado vs M Illescas, 1987 
(D42) Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch, 7.Bd3, 32 moves, 1-0

18.Nf6+
de Firmian vs Huebner, 1995 
(C11) French, 22 moves, 1-0

18. Nf6!
Chandler vs M Wahls, 1990 
(B07) Pirc, 21 moves, 1-0

25.Ngf6+
Fressinet vs I Khmelniker, 2016 
(C50) Giuoco Piano, 30 moves, 1-0

14.Nf6+ / 15.Bxh7!
Jansa vs D Marovic, 1974 
(C03) French, Tarrasch, 21 moves, 1-0

24.Nf6+!!
S Zhigalko vs I Bukavshin, 2015 
(B47) Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) Variation, 39 moves, 1-0

25.Nf6+
A Huzman vs Y Zilberman, 2008 
(E09) Catalan, Closed, 29 moves, 1-0

29.Nf6+!!
I Cheparinov vs Pelletier, 2007 
(B48) Sicilian, Taimanov Variation, 30 moves, 1-0

17. Nf6+!
J Raoux vs J Du Mont, 1913 
(B01) Scandinavian, 21 moves, 1-0

27.Nf6+! Qg3+ --> QxRb8
K Le vs A Safar, 2007 
(D43) Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav, 44 moves, 1-0

20.Nf6!
B Prince vs S Volkov, 2016 
(C11) French, 30 moves, 1-0

23.Nf6!!
A Adly vs V Laznicka, 2007 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 28 moves, 1-0

17.Nf6+!
D Howell vs R Jumabayev, 2016 
(A33) English, Symmetrical, 27 moves, 1-0

16.Nf6+
Lputian vs Dlugy, 1998 
(D26) Queen's Gambit Accepted, 23 moves, 1-0

13.Nf6+ / 17.RxNd7!!
T Hillarp Persson vs A C Taylor, 2017 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 22 moves, 1-0

23. Nf6!
J Mieses vs Rubinstein, 1912  
(C24) Bishop's Opening, 28 moves, 1/2-1/2

14. Nf6 Bxf6 15. gf6 gf6 16. Qh4 Qd8
Alekhine vs Euwe, 1935 
(C15) French, Winawer, 41 moves, 1-0

missed 16.N5e4!! followed by Nf6(+)
K Richter vs Eliskases, 1936 
(C13) French, 44 moves, 1/2-1/2

19.Nf6+ Kh8 20.Qh4 gxf6 21.g6 1-0
J Rejdal vs M Dietze, 1931 
(A06) Reti Opening, 21 moves, 1-0

26.Nf6+!
Wojtaszek vs Lupulescu, 2018
(D31) Queen's Gambit Declined, 34 moves, 1-0

12...Nf3+!! 13.gxf3 Qxh3 14.fxg4 Bd6
M Sixtensson vs G West, 1985 
(B00) Uncommon King's Pawn Opening, 22 moves, 0-1

20.Nf6+
J Magem Badals vs J Oms Pallisse, 2010 
(C00) French Defense, 21 moves, 1-0

19.Re6!
J Dobias vs J Podgorny, 1952 
(C10) French, 20 moves, 1-0

15. Ne6!
Vyzmanavin vs M Tseitlin, 1985
(A48) King's Indian, 40 moves, 1-0

26. Ne6!?
A Frolov vs L Shmuter, 1993
(B57) Sicilian, 28 moves, 1-0

24. Ne6!! w/# (1:0)
H Karner vs V Rozhdestvensky, 1958 
(D92) Grunfeld, 5.Bf4, 24 moves, 1-0

13.Ne6!!
M Esserman vs V Martirosov, 2008 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 25 moves, 1-0

28.Bh6! Qc8 (declined)
A Korobov vs F Blohberger, 2022
(B11) Caro-Kann, Two Knights, 3...Bg4, 60 moves, 1-0

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