Alekhine's Defense with 2. Nc3

Hi Everyone,

 I occasionally play Alekhine's Defense, and I was wondering, maybe we could make a database of possible lines of play for Black after 2. Nc3. Just post a diagram with the line of play, and annotate a little. If you can, say where you got the line from.

Thanks!

2 Nc3...d5 =

Just play e5 and go into the Vienna

mytself,

Please post a diagram with those variations. Thanks!

IM Graham Burgess gives this as the most interesting after 2. Nc3:

3...d4 is much better than 3...Ne4 because Black is going to be seriously cramped with no compensation after 4 Nxe4 dxe4 5 d4 exd3 6 Qxd3/Bxd3.  White has a strong pawn in the center and Black doesn't.  

Yes, careal, I think you're right about that. I'm playing  the Ne4 Alekhine variation in one of my games right now, and  I am not quite satisfied with it, it left me cramped. Here I'll show you the position. I somehow managed to get out of the cramped position for some part, but white couldve exploited is space advantage much more. I think After this game I wont play this variation anymore until I found a sound continuation. And Chesslover, I like the d4 variation, thank you for the idea. I'll try it out in one of my next games, it looks exciting.

Right now, it's my mo

I Think I shouldve immediately played 11..Qa1+ and then after 12 Kd2 ...Bb4+

Force a bisshop exchange to release tension in center, and immediately castle. I still have to analyze that. But first, I need to finish the game. 

Hi Dinky ! I think your 5...e6 is certainly playable (doesn't it transpose into a French ?), but why not play something like 5...Bf5 and then a set-up like in your game with ...e6/c5.

I don't see any immediate way for white to take advantage of this black move.

hicetnunc,

   I agree, 5... e6 is playable, but 5... Bf5 was probobly slightly better, and I think this is one of the reasons that Dinky's game became cramped.

Patzer24,

  Thanks for mentioning this line, as I forgot to include it! It is a fairly common line, and I recommend anyone playing the Alekhine to know a bit about it:

  4... Nb6 is the main line, but 4... Nxc3 is also a fairly good move. I am aware there is a way to grab a pawn in the line:

4... e6

5. Bxd5!?     exd5

6. Qe2+

But I don't know the details.

Yes, I agree that Bf5 was better indeed. I think I was a little afraid of white's center domination, with a move like 6.c4. But I think It wasn't really anything to worry about yet, since white also had a problem with the cramping e4 pawn.

Instead I made the mistake of locking in my light-squared bisshop. You were quite right about that. I will thoroughly analyze this game after it's finished. I might post some ideas later. Thanks for you ideas.