B22 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined

8/8
1.e4c52.c3Nf63.e5Nd54.d4cxd4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined1.6M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
69%1.1M48%
18%285k53%
6%93k51%
4.9%77k52%
1.3%21k46%
0.1%1.4k49%
0%64841%
0%45045%
0%32942%
0%11045%
Famous games in this line9.8k master games
Aronian, L. (2785)Dominguez Perez, L. (2756)2022½–½Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2764)Giri, Anish (2763)20200–1Nakamura, Hi (2788)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2731)20231–0Alekseev, Evgeny (2678)Grischuk, A. (2777)2014½–½Kamsky, Gata (2723)Grischuk, Alexander (2728)2008½–½Aronian, L. (2748)Sevian, Samuel (2692)20251–0Sevian, Samuel (2692)Dominguez Perez, L. (2741)20250–1Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2665)Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2757)2013½–½
Heroes of this opening Giri, Anish · Nakamura, Hi · Aronian, L. · Dominguez Perez, L.
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B22
Line
1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4
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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