chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...

, 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 Master or masters may refer to: Ranks or titles * Ascended master, a term used in the Theosophical religious tradition to refer to spiritually enlightened beings who in past incarnations were ordinary humans *Grandmaster (chess), National Master ...

Semyon Alapin Semyon Zinovyevich Alapin (russian: Семён Зиновьевич Алапин; – 15 July 1923) was a Russian chess player, openings analyst, and puzzle composer. He was also a linguist, railway engineer and a grain commodities merchant. ...

(1856–1923). For many years, it was not held in high regard, since 2...d5 was thought to allow Black easy . Today, the Alapin is considered to be one of the most and respectable , and it is championed by grandmasters such as Evgeny Sveshnikov, Eduardas Rozentalis,

Sergei Tiviakov Sergei Tiviakov (russian: Серге́й Тивяков; born 14 February 1973) is a Russian–Dutch chess grandmaster. He is a three-time Dutch Champion and was European Champion in 2008. Chess career Tiviakov won the World Under-18 Champion ...

, Duško Pavasovič, and Dražen Sermek. It has been played by World Champions

Viswanathan Anand Viswanathan "Vishy" Anand (born 11 December 1969) is an Indian chess grandmaster and a former five-time World Chess Champion. He became the first grandmaster from India in 1988, and is one of the few players to have surpassed an Elo rating o ...

Garry Kasparov Garry Kimovich Kasparov (born 13 April 1963) is a Russian chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist and commentator. His peak rating of 2851, achieved in 1999, was the highest recorded until being surpassed by ...

Anatoly Karpov Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov ( rus, links=no, Анато́лий Евге́ньевич Ка́рпов, p=ɐnɐˈtolʲɪj jɪvˈɡʲenʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ˈkarpəf; born May 23, 1951) is a Russian and former Soviet chess grandmaster, former World Che ...

Veselin Topalov Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov (pronounced ; bg, Весели́н Александров Топа́лов; born 15 March 1975) is a Bulgarian chess grandmaster and former FIDE World Chess Champion. Topalov became FIDE World Chess Champion by wi ...

, and Vladimir Kramnik, and Deep Blue played the Alapin Variation against Kasparov in their 1996 match. 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

The main line in current practice is 2... Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 and can also arise if White offers, and Black declines, the

Smith–Morra Gambit In chess, the Smith–Morra Gambit (or simply Morra Gambit) is an opening gambit against the Sicilian Defence distinguished by the moves: :1. e4 c5 :2. d4 cxd4 :3. c3 White sacrifices a pawn to quickly and create attacking chances. In exc ...

(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

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 The French Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. e4 e6 This is most commonly followed by 2.d4 d5, with Black intending ...c5 soon after, attacking White's and gaining on the . The French has a reputation for solidity ...

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

This is Black's most solid response, preparing 3...d5. It is closely related to the

, to which it often transposes. White can transpose to the Advance Variation of the

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

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

Other tries

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 for White.

Notes

References

*Rozentalis, Eduardas and Harley, Andrew, ''Play the 2.c3 Sicilian'' (UK:

Gambit Publications {{Infobox publisher , name = Gambit Publications , image = , caption = , parent = , status = , traded_as = , predecessor = , founded = , founder = John Nunn, Murray Chandler, and Graham ...

2002) *

External links

Chess openings Sicilian, Alapin (B22)An Interesting Idea in the Alapin Sicilian
{{Chess, state=collapsed Chess openings