Secret Sidelines in 1. e4 - How to surprise the Alekhine defense

Comments on https://lichess.org/@/getdiscombobulated/blog/secret-sidelines-in-1-e4-how-to-surprise-the-alekhine-defense/ul1hmQSK

@GetDiscombobulated

Thanks for this nice opening against Alekhine.

The whole point of the 4 pawn attack is to demonstrate that Nb6 is badly placed and e5 is secure.
You spend a pawn move c5 to make a hole on d5 and force black to re-centralize his knight ...Nd5.

@tpr said ^

The whole point of the 4 pawn attack is to demonstrate that Nb6 is badly placed and e5 is secure.

This is a sideline. We change the point to go for a locked center, where we can attack on the Kingside.

You spend a pawn move c5 to make a hole on d5 and force black to re-centralize his knight ...Nd5.

The knight is re-centralized. But that's doesn't do much for Black as it simply sit there, while we go for a Kingside attack.

"that's doesn't do much for Black as it simply sit there, while we go for a Kingside attack"

• Black should play Be6, Qd7, h6, O-O-O. Black occupies the hole on d5, and piles up queen and rook against the weak pawn on d4.

@tpr said ^

"that's doesn't do much for Black as it simply sit there, while we go for a Kingside attack"

• Black should play Be6, Qd7, h6, O-O-O. Black occupies the hole on d5, and piles up queen and rook against the weak pawn on d4.

Yes. White still gets a fine position in that case. There is no absolute 'point' to the 4 pawn attack. It is not forced to play the mainline. This is a playable sideline. White has a space advantage and the idea of sacrificing with b4 to open the b-file. It is a dynamic playable position. Forcing Black to decentralize their knight to Nd5 does not suddenly give Black an advantage so it is not an objection to this sideline.

"does not suddenly give Black an advantage"

• No, but throws away the normal white advantage in the four pawn attack.

"sacrificing with b4 to open the b-file"

• If white prepares b4 with Na3 and Nc2, then it is prudent for black to leave his king in the center and play Rd8 instead of O-O-O.

@tpr said ^

"does not suddenly give Black an advantage"

• No, but throws away the normal white advantage in the four pawn attack.

According to the lichess engine, this sideline is +0.3-+0.4 while four pawn attack main line is +0.6-+0.7.

This sideline is fine. It's a practical option for those who don't want to deal with the sharper four pawn line and to put the opponent out of book.

This is why sidelines exist. Just because it isn't the no.1 engine option is not a reason not to play it.

"sacrificing with b4 to open the b-file"

• If white prepares b4 with Na3 and Nc2, then it is prudent for black to leave his king in the center and play Rd8 instead of O-O-O.

White still has a +0.3 advantage. This is fine for White and a good practical option.

"White still has a +0.3 advantage."

• Instead of +1.0. The whole point of the 4 pawn attack is to try and refute 1...Nf6.
  The white pawn is no better on c5, leaving a hole on d5, than on c4, where it controls central square d5 and can support the advance d5. The black knight is better in the center on d5 occupying the hole than on b6. So black should be glad with the insertion of c5 Nd5.

@tpr said ^

"White still has a +0.3 advantage."

• Instead of +1.0. The whole point of the 4 pawn attack is to try and refute 1...Nf6.
  The white pawn is no better on c5, leaving a hole on d5, than on c4, where it controls central square d5 and can support the advance d5. The black knight is better in the center on d5 occupying the hole than on b6. So black should be glad with the insertion of c5 Nd5.

This sideline is fine. It's a practical option for those who don't want to deal with the sharper four pawn line and to put the opponent out of book.

This is why sidelines exist. Just because it isn't the no.1 engine option is not a reason not to play it.