B40 · Semi-Open · a defense for Black
Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6
5/5
1.e4c52.Nf3e63.c3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e64.7M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
35%1.7M51%
25%1.2M47%
15%717k47%
14%672k52%
3.1%145k47%
1.5%72k47%
1.5%69k47%
1.1%51k49%
1.1%50k46%
0.7%31k46%
Famous games in this line9.1k master games
Vachier Lagrave, M. (2789) – Caruana, F. (2816)Nakamura, Hi (2816) – Caruana, F. (2789)Wang Hao (2762) – Caruana, F.. (2842)Carlsen, M. (2832) – Firouzja, Alireza (2767)Aronian, L. (2745) – Carlsen, M. (2853)Aronian, Levon (2767) – Caruana, Fabiano (2828)Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2789) – Caruana, F. (2804)Nakamura, Hi (2804) – Erigaisi, Arjun (2782)Heroes of this opening Caruana, Fabiano
- Family
- Sicilian Defense
- Category
- Semi-Open
- First move
- 1.e4
- ECO
- B40
- Line
- 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3
Keep exploring
Go deeper — named lines from here
Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin VariationB22 3…d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nf6Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Sherzer VariationB40 3…Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 Nc6
Nearby lines in the family
From the archives
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.
Study this opening