We’re in the midst of going through various openings to help you develop an awareness of combinations right in the opening. We’ve done the Scandinavian a bit and now we’re looking at the Alekhine’s Defense. A game, Hanada-Makamure, Japan, 1992, started out like this: 1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e5 Nfd7 4.f4 e6 5.Qg4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be2 f5 8.Qg3 a6 9.Ng5 Nd4 and ended up in our diagrammed position. What did White do next?

Solution:

White’s brilliant attack was based on that old concept of the weak e8-h5 Black diagonal that leaves the Black king vulnerable to checks. The game continued: 10.Nxe6 Nxe6 11.Bh5+ g6 12.Qxg6+ hxg6 13.Bxg6+ and Black Resigned as 13…Ke7 leads to 14.Nd5 mate.

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