Alekhine's gun

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Alekhine's gun is a formation in chess named after the former World Chess Champion, Alexander Alekhine. This formation was named after a game he played against another illustrious Grandmaster, Aaron Nimzowitsch in San Remo 1930, ending with Alekhine’s victory. The idea consists of forming a battery with the two rooks stacked one behind another and the queen at the rear. This can lead to massive damage to the opponent as it usually marks the beginning of the final assault (in this case it was only four moves before resignation).

Alekhine's gun is quite difficult to assemble because the pieces it requires may also be involved in covering some disputed fields. It should be used only when a very clear and often decisive advantage is to be gained aiming against vital heavily protected fields. Misusing Alekhine’s gun can lead to an unsurmountable loss in tempo and that can make the difference in a match.

Here is the game that spawned Alekhine’s gun:

Alexander Alekhine vs. Aaron Nimzowitsch:

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.Bd2 Ne7 6.Nb5 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 0–0 8.c3 b6 9.f4 Ba6 10.Nf3 Qd7 11.a4 Nbc6 12.b4 cxb4 13.cxb4 Bb7 14.Nd6 f5 15.a5 Nc8 16.Nxb7 Qxb7 17.a6 Qf7 18.Bb5 N8e7 19.0–0 h6 20.Rfc1 Rfc8 21.Rc2 Qe8? 22.Rac1 Rab8 23.Qe3 Rc7 24.Rc3 Qd7 25.R1c2 Kf8 26.Qc1 (See diagram. This is the point at which Alekhine forms the Alekhine gun, he then went on to win the game.) ...Rbc8 27.Ba4 b5 28.Bxb5 Ke8 29.Ba4 Kd8 30.h4! h5 31.Kh2 g6 32.g3 1-0

Six years later, in 1936, William Winter was defeated by Alekhine in Nottingham, who used Alekhine's gun again to secure the victory. Since then, chess players have learned a lot about using and guarding against this formation. However, some international games are still lost and won by the force of this tactic.