Classical Chess Openings: A Guide
The openings most commonly played in Alekhine's era — roughly the 1910s through 1940s — include both classical systems that had been played for decades and several new ideas that emerged from the hypermodern movement. Understanding these openings is essential for reading and appreciating the games of the period.
Open Games (1.e4 e5)
Openings beginning 1.e4 e5 are called "open games" because both sides open central files immediately. These openings dominated chess until the twentieth century and remain fully viable today.
The Ruy Lopez (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5) is the oldest and most deeply analyzed of all openings. White's bishop on b5 pressures the knight defending the e5 pawn and prepares for slow, positional maneuvering. Capablanca and Lasker favored this opening greatly.
The Italian Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4) aims the bishop at the vulnerable f7 square and can lead to sharp or quiet play depending on both sides' choices.
The King's Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.f4) was popular in the nineteenth century and declined in the twentieth, but Alekhine occasionally used it for its attacking possibilities. White offers a pawn to get rapid development and open lines against Black's king.
Semi-Open Games (1.e4 ...)
The French Defense (1.e4 e6) was famously disliked by Alekhine, who called it the dullest of openings. Black builds a solid if somewhat cramped structure; the game often becomes a slow maneuvering battle.
The Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) was played in this era but had not yet achieved its later dominance. Black establishes immediate queenside counterplay and creates an asymmetrical position from the first move. Alekhine used it occasionally.
The Alekhine Defense (1.e4 Nf6) — see the dedicated article.
Closed Games (1.d4 d5)
The Queen's Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4) was the dominant opening of the 1920s and 1930s. White offers the c4 pawn, usually not intending it to be captured for long. The Queen's Gambit Declined (2...e6) was considered the most solid response and was played extensively in world championship matches of the era.
The Nimzo-Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4) was Nimzowitsch's contribution to opening theory and became one of the most important defenses in chess. Black pins the knight, prevents it from supporting the center, and seeks to control the game through piece activity rather than pawn occupation.
Hypermodern Openings
The Reti Opening (1.Nf3 followed by g3 and Bg2) was Richard Reti's primary contribution to opening theory. White develops with fianchettoed bishops and avoids an early pawn commitment to the center.
The King's Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7) allows White a full pawn center and then counterattacks with ...d6 and ...e5. It became enormously popular after the Second World War.
Choosing an Opening
For a student of classical chess, the advice of Alekhine's era is still sound: begin with open games (1.e4 e5) because they teach tactical and developmental principles clearly. Once these are comfortable, the more complex closed and hypermodern systems can be explored with greater understanding.