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Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation

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(Redirected from B22 (chess opening)) Chess opening
Alapin Variation
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Moves1.e4 c5 2.c3
ECOB22
Named afterSemyon Alapin
ParentSicilian Defence

In chess, the Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation is a response to the Sicilian Defence characterised by the moves:

1. e4 c5
2. c3

It 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.

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.

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Main variations

2...Nf6

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8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishoph8 black rooka7 black pawnb7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawnf6 black knightc5 black pawne4 white pawnc3 white pawna2 white pawnb2 white pawnd2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawna1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook8
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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

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8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rooka7 black pawnb7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawnc5 black pawnd5 black pawne4 white pawnc3 white pawna2 white pawnb2 white pawnd2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawna1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook8
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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.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 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

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8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rooka7 black pawnb7 black pawnd7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawne6 black pawnc5 black pawne4 white pawnc3 white pawna2 white pawnb2 white pawnd2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawna1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook8
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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

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8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rooka7 black pawnb7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawnd6 black pawnc5 black pawne4 white pawnc3 white pawna2 white pawnb2 white pawnd2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawna1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook8
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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

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8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rooka7 black pawnb7 black pawnd7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawnc5 black pawne5 black pawne4 white pawnc3 white pawna2 white pawnb2 white pawnd2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawna1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook8
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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

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