Yet the fact that Alekhine played 1.e4 indicates definite
non-hypermodern tendencies. One of the hypermodern rallying cries was
"After 1.e4 White's game is in its last throes!" (Breyer)

I took that remark as a joke. It goes without saying
that, even after 1.e4?!, White can probably defend to
hold a draw. For example, after 1.e4 Nf6! 2.Qe2 b6
3.g3! Bb7 4.Bg2, White is threatening to defend his
strong point on d5 via the manouver d3, Nd2, Nf1, Ne3.
And once that is accomplished, the secondary manuever
h3, Rh2, Qf1, Qh1 secures the point d5 permanently.
So the key question is, can Black achieve as much in
the same number of moves (or less)? If not, his only
significant advantage lies in not having committed any
of his central pawns to the fourth rank -- and that, alone,
may not be enough to carry the day against perfect,
stubborn defense by White.

-- hyper bot