In chess

Chess

Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...

, the Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation is a response to the Sicilian Defence

Sicilian Defence

The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4...

 characterized by the moves:

1. e4 c5

2. c3

It is named after the Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n master Semyon Alapin

Semyon Alapin

Semyon Zinovyevich Alapin was a Russian and Lithuanian chess master, openings analyst, and puzzle composer. He was a linguist, railway engineer and merchant .-Biography:...

 (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 one of the most solid and respectable Anti-Sicilians and is championed by grandmasters such as Evgeny Sveshnikov

Evgeny Sveshnikov

Evgeny Ellinovich Sveshnikov is a Latvian, former Soviet International Grandmaster of chess, and a chess writer.-The player:...

, Eduardas Rozentalis

Eduardas Rozentalis

Eduardas Rozentalis is a Lithuanian chess grandmaster.He played for the Lithuanian team at first board in seven Chess Olympiads in 1992–98, and 2002–06....

 and Drazen Sermek

Dražen Sermek

Dražen Sermek is a Slovene chess player.Sermek won the Slovenian Chess Championship in 1993 and 1998 and was a member of Slovenia Olympic team in 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006.In 2001 he came first in the Pula Open...

. It has in the past been played by World Champions

World Chess Championship

The World Chess Championship is played to determine the World Champion in the board game chess. Men and women of any age are eligible to contest this title....

 Viswanathan Anand

Viswanathan Anand

V. Anand or Anand Viswanathan, usually referred as Viswanathan Anand, is an Indian chess Grandmaster, the current World Chess Champion, and currently second highest rated player in the world....

, Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov

Garry Kimovich Kasparov is a Russian chess grandmaster, a former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist, and one of the greatest chess players of all time....

, Anatoly Karpov

Anatoly Karpov

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. He was the official world champion from 1975 to 1985 when he was defeated by Garry Kasparov. He played three matches against Kasparov for the title from 1986 to 1990, before becoming FIDE World Champion once...

, Veselin Topalov

Veselin Topalov

Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov is a Bulgarian chess grandmaster. He currently has the sixth highest rating in the world, and was the challenger facing world champion Viswanathan Anand in the World Chess Championship 2010, losing the match 6½–5½....

 and Vladimir Kramnik

Vladimir Kramnik

Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik is a Russian chess grandmaster. He was the Classical World Chess Champion from 2000 to 2006, and the undisputed World Chess Champion from 2006 to 2007...

.

The Alapin is also sometimes seen in deferred form, particularly if 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 is a particularly useful move against the Alapin.

2...Nf6

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5

This is the main line in current practice and can also arise if White offers, and Black declines, the Smith-Morra Gambit

Smith-Morra Gambit

In chess, the Smith–Morra Gambit is an opening gambit against the Sicilian Defence distinguished by the moves:The Smith–Morra is not common in grandmaster games, but at club level chess it can be an excellent weapon.-History:...

 (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

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5

This is the main alternative to 2...Nf6 for Black. The main line continues 3.exd5 Qxd5. 3.e5 may transpose into the Advance Variation of the French Defence

French Defence

The French Defence is a chess opening. It is characterised by the moves:The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, though it can result in a somewhat cramped game for Black in the early stages...

 if Black responds with 3...e6, but Black has other alternatives. After 3.exd5, 3...Nf6 is possible, but it is not clear whether Black will have 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 French Defense, to which it often transposes. White can transpose to the Advance Variation of the French Defense 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 sharp response. Black often offers a gambit with 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxc5 Nc6 (4...Nxe4?? 5.Qa4+) 5.cxd6 Nxe4. However, White can instead play quietly with 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bd3, occupying the center and maintaining a spatial advantage.

2...e5

Play usually continues 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bc4, with a solid edge for White.

External links

• Chess openings Sicilian, Alapin (B22)
• An Interesting Idea in the Alapin Sicilian