Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense
6/6
1.e4c52.c3d53.exd5Qxd5
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense2.2M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
66%1.5M54%
28%619k50%
1.8%40k46%
1.3%28k43%
1.2%27k51%
0.6%14k46%
0.5%10k46%
0.4%8.2k43%
0.2%3.8k39%
0.1%2.8k50%
Famous games in this line12k master games
Carlsen, M.. (2862) – Giri, A.. (2764)Carlsen, M. (2861) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2725)Carlsen, M. (2835) – Gukesh, D. (2744)Carlsen, M. (2831) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2731)Mamedyarov, S.. (2770) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2789)Radjabov, Teimour (2761) – Ivanchuk, Vassily (2779)Andreikin, D. (2727) – Ding Liren (2812)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2795) – Vachier Lagrave, M. (2741)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Nepomniachtchi, I.. · Vachier Lagrave, M.
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B22
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Modern Line4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Central Exchange4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 · 1 deeper lineSicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Milner-Barry Attack4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.cxd4 e5 …Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 …
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
No reply to 1.e4 is played more. Fischer made the Najdorf his main weapon, and Kasparov's Sicilians are pillars of chess history — the Scheveningen against Karpov, the Dragon he unveiled against Anand in 1995. When you play 1...c5 you refuse symmetry, the same refusal that carried two world champions.
Study this opening