B22 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Anti-Alapin Gambit

6/6
1.e4c52.c3d53.exd5Nf6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Anti-Alapin Gambit145k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
47%68k50%
25%36k47%
16%23k49%
5%7.2k53%
2.5%3.6k58%
2.1%3.0k46%
0.7%98345%
0.4%52850%
0.3%39142%
0.2%33648%
Famous games in this line352 master games
Grandelius, N. (2635)Carlsen, M. (2864)20220–1Mamedov, Rau (2642)Saric, Iv (2670)2023½–½Howell, D. (2677)Brkic, A. (2608)20231–0Naroditsky, D. (2616)Narayanan, SL. (2658)2022½–½Aravindh, Chithambaram VR. (2662)Yuffa, D. (2607)2024½–½Pechac, Jergus (2633)Indjic, A. (2630)20231–0Artemiev, V. (2701)Zemlyanskii, Ivan (2543)2024½–½Howell, David (2614)Ivanisevic, Ivan (2629)20091–0
Heroes of this opening Howell, David · Carlsen, M. · Pechac, Jergus
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B22
Line
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Nf6
Gambit
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Alapin VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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No defense has won more games at every level than the Sicilian. Bobby Fischer played almost nothing else against 1.e4, and Kasparov's Najdorf battles with Karpov and Anand are pillars of chess history. When you play 1...c5, you're refusing symmetry — the same refusal that carried two world champions.

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