Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation

Alapin Variation
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
c5 black pawn
e4 white pawn
c3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Moves1.e4 c5 2.c3
ECOB22
Named afterSemyon Alapin
ParentSicilian Defence

The Alapin Variation is a variation of the Sicilian Defence that begins with the moves:

1. e4 c5
2. c3

White plays 2.c3 with the intention of supporting a later d4, which would establish a strong central pawn centre. Black most often replies with 2...d5 or 2...Nf6.

The opening is named after the Russian master Semyon Alapin (1856–1923). For many years, it was not held in high regard, since 2...d5 was thought to allow Black easy equality.[1][2] Today, the Alapin is considered to be one of the most solid and respectable Anti-Sicilians, and it is championed by grandmasters such as Evgeny Sveshnikov, Eduardas Rozentalis, Sergei Tiviakov, Duško Pavasovič, and Dražen Sermek. It has been played by World Champions Viswanathan Anand, Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Veselin Topalov, and Vladimir Kramnik, and Deep Blue played the Alapin Variation against Kasparov in their 1996 match. Magnus Carlsen played it in his championship tiebreaker against Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa in the 2023 FIDE World Cup.

The Alapin is also seen in deferred form, particularly when Black chooses an unusual second move after 2.Nf3. For example, after 2.Nf3 a6 or 2.Nf3 Qc7, 3.c3 is often seen, since neither ...a6 nor ...Qc7 are particularly useful moves against the Alapin.

Main variations

2...Nf6

abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8h8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6 black knightg6h66
5a5b5c5 black pawnd5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Alapin Variation 2...Nf6

The main line in current practice is 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 and can also arise if Black declines the Smith–Morra Gambit (1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5).

White has a number of options including 4.d4, 4.Nf3, 4.g3 and 4.Bc4.

2...d5

abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black pawnd5 black pawne5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Alapin Variation 2...d5

This is the main alternative to 2...Nf6 for Black. The usual continuation is 3.exd5 Qxd5, a line known as the Barmen Defense.[3] 3.e5 may transpose to the Advance Variation of the French Defence if Black responds with 3...e6, but Black can also develop his c8-bishop before playing e6. This leads to a favorable version of the French for Black, since the bishop is no longer hemmed in by the pawn chain. If White plays 3.exd5, 3...Nf6 is also possible, but it is not clear whether Black receives sufficient compensation for the pawn.

The main options revolve around:

  • 4.d4 Nc6 and now 5.dxc5 or 5.Nf3
  • 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 when after both 5...e6 and 5...Bg4 White can try a number of different moves.

2...e6

abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7 black pawne7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6 black pawnf6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black pawnd5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Alapin Variation 2...e6

This is Black's most solid response, preparing 3...d5. It is closely related to the French Defence, to which it often transposes. White can transpose to the Advance Variation of the French Defence with 3.d4 d5 4.e5. Alternatively, White can transpose to a sort of Tarrasch French with 3.d4 d5 4.Nd2, or try to demonstrate a slight advantage with 3.d4 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Be3.

2...d6

abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7e7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6 black pawne6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black pawnd5e5f5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Alapin Variation 2...d6

This is a sharp response. Black often offers a gambit with 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxc5 Nc6 (4...Nxe4?? 5.Qa4+) 5.cxd6 Nxe4. White can instead play quietly, however, with 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bd3, occupying the centre and maintaining a spatial advantage.

Other tries

2...e5

abcdefgh
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7d7 black pawne7f7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6b6c6d6e6f6g6h66
5a5b5c5 black pawnd5e5 black pawnf5g5h55
4a4b4c4d4e4 white pawnf4g4h44
3a3b3c3 white pawnd3e3f3g3h33
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2d2 white pawne2f2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
abcdefgh
Alapin Variation 2...e5

This move makes it hard for White to play d4, but seriously weakens the d5-square. Play usually continues 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4, with a solid edge for White.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Siegbert Tarrasch wrote, using descriptive chess notation, "To 2.P-QB3? Black can advantageously reply with 2...P-Q4!." Siegbert Tarrasch, The Game of Chess, David McKay, 1938, p. 322. ISBN 978-1-880673-94-2 (1994 Hays Publishing edition).
  2. ^ Walter Korn, much like Tarrasch, dismissed the Alapin with "2...P-Q4!=." Walter Korn, Modern Chess Openings, 11th Edition (commonly referred to as MCO-11), Pitman Publishing, 1972, p. 148. ISBN 0-273-41845-9.
  3. ^ "David Howell vs. Wang Yue (2012)". Retrieved 31 January 2012.

References

Further reading

The Wikibook Chess Opening Theory has a page on the topic of: Alapin Variation
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