for White · beginner
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
3/3
1.e4c52.c3
White prepares d4 with c3 to build a strong classical centre and sidesteps the huge body of Open Sicilian theory. It is a solid, positional anti-Sicilian that is easy to learn and hard for Black to attack.
Key ideas
- Support a big d4 centre with the c3 pawn
- Meet ...d5 and ...Nf6 with sound central play
- Aim for an isolated queen's pawn position with active pieces
- Keep the game strategic and avoid Black's sharpest preparation
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation19.3M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
30%5.7M46%
17%3.4M50%
16%3.1M47%
15%2.8M48%
11%2.0M51%
5.1%989k48%
4.6%888k50%
1.2%239k47%
0.4%82k47%
0.2%42k51%
Famous games in this line38k master games
Carlsen, M.. (2862) – Nepomniachtchi, I.. (2784)Nepomniachtchi, I. (2779) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Carlsen, M.. (2862) – Giri, A.. (2764)Carlsen, M. (2840) – Giri, A. (2760)Carlsen, M. (2831) – Nepomniachtchi, I. (2755)Carlsen, M. (2861) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2725)Carlsen, M.. (2847) – Nakamura, Hi (2736)Carlsen, M. (2830) – So, W. (2752)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M..
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense2…d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 · 4 deeper linesSicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Anti-Alapin Gambit2…d5 3.exd5 Nf6Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined2…Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4Sicilian Defense: Heidenfeld Variation2…Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Na3
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