Alapin Sicilian
You play White · 7 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
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10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 5
- Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame VariationB221. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd49 moves
- Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Milner-Barry AttackB221. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. cxd4 e5 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. Be28 moves
- Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Modern LineB221. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg45 moves
- Alapin Variation, Barmen DefenseB221. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 g6 5. Nf35 moves
- Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack, Ivanchuk LineB221. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 c4 7. Bc2 Qc7 8. Qe2 g58 moves
Other variations · 2
What is the Alapin Sicilian?
The Alapin Sicilian starts 1.e4 c5 2.c3. White prepares d4 and wants to recapture with the c-pawn to keep a full pawn center, avoiding the Open Sicilian and its mountains of theory. The two main replies are ...d5 and ...Nf6. After 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 you are in the Barmen Defense, and after 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 the knight is pushed around while White gains space. The character is positional and fairly open, often with an isolated queen's pawn for White. It is a respected, mainstream anti-Sicilian that grandmasters use to get a playable game with little risk.
Main ideas and plans
In the Barmen Defense, 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3, Black's queen is active on d5 but can be hit by Nc3. After ...cxd4 and cxd4 you usually have an isolated d4 pawn: your plans are piece activity, the d5 break, a kingside attack with Bd3, Qe2 and Rd1, and the outpost on e5. In the Modern Line Black pins with ...Bg4, and in the Central Exchange, 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4, the d4 pawn comes under fire; the Endgame Variation shows White giving it up for an active queenless position. The Milner-Barry Attack is a sharper choice when Black hits the center with ...e5.
Against the knight line you can play d4 with a quick exchange, or choose the Stoltz Attack, 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3, where the bishop is well placed and the e5 pawn cramps Black. The Ivanchuk Line with ...c4, ...Qc7 and ...g5 shows how sharp Black can make it. Black also has the Anti-Alapin Gambit, 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Nf6, offering a pawn for development, and the Sherzer Variation arises when Black plays ...e6 first and White chooses c3.
Who is it for?
The Alapin suits 1.e4 players who want a sound, low-theory answer to the Sicilian and like clear positional plans. It is less ambitious than the Open Sicilian: with accurate play Black equalizes, so you win by understanding the middlegame better, not by knockout preparation. Study isolated queen's pawn positions first, since they arise constantly, and remember that after 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 the move Nc3 gains time on the queen once d4 is in place.