Alekhine’s Gun
Alekhine's Gun is one of the most powerful and visually striking formations in chess. It involves lining up two rooks and a queen on a single file to create triple-layered pressure against an opponent's weak point. Mastering this heavy-piece battery allows you to dominate open files, overload defenders, and break through even the most stubborn defensive setups.
The Triple Battery on a File
Alekhine’s Gun is one of the most powerful heavy-piece formations in chess, designed to dominate open files by tripling pieces.
A “battery” is when pieces stack on a line to multiply force. But Alekhine’s Gun is the ultimate version: Rook + Rook + Queen. The most famous example comes from Alekhine’s positional masterpiece against Nimzowitsch at San Remo 1930.
Alexander Alekhine vs Aron Nimzowitsch
San Remo (1930), Round 3 • French Defense (C17) • 1–0
1. Before the Shot – Pieces Already on the File
White already has two rooks stacked on the c-file. The remaining step is to bring the Queen behind them.
2. The Famous Move – 26. Qc1!
The move: 26. Qc1!
The Queen slides behind the rooks, forming the classic Alekhine’s Gun: Qc1 supporting Rc2 supporting Rc3. Now the c-file pressure becomes suffocating.
- It increases pressure without sacrificing anything.
- It often creates pins / overloads defenders.
- It can “freeze” the opponent — they run out of useful moves.
Game continuation (as recorded): 26...Rbc8 27.Ba4 b5 28.Bxb5 Ke8 29.Ba4 Kd8 30.h4 1–0
From the Archives
"A triple battery is like tightening a vice: no tactics needed — the position collapses by force."
— Kingscrusher
"If you can stack rooks, the Queen often completes the ‘Gun’ — and the opponent starts running out of air."