Alapin Sicilian

2...d5: IQP structure

After the central exchanges White gets an isolated d4-pawn with active pieces: Nc3 with tempo on the queen, the Rc1 file and play in the centre.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Be2 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.Be3 cxd4 9.cxd4 O-O 10.Nc3 Qd6 11.Rc1

1. 1.e4 – White occupies the centre and opens diagonals for the queen and the f1-bishop.
2. 1...c5 – The Sicilian Defence: Black controls d4 with a flank pawn and creates an imbalance.
3. 2.c3 – The Alapin: White prepares d4 so that he can recapture with the c3-pawn and keep two pawns in the centre.
4. 2...d5 – The most direct reply: Black hits e4 before White can play d4.
5. 3.exd5 – White exchanges: defending e4 with Nc3 is impossible because the c3-square is taken by the pawn.
6. 3...Qxd5 – The queen recaptures without fear: with the pawn on c3 White cannot gain time with Nc3.
7. 4.d4 – White takes the centre: if Black exchanges on d4, the c3-pawn recaptures and the knight can later come to c3.
8. 4...Nf6 – Black develops, controlling e4 and d5 and supporting the centralised queen.
9. 5.Nf3 – Natural development: the knight defends d4 and prepares castling.
10. 5...e6 – Black frees the f8-bishop and reinforces d5: a solid set-up, and White must decide what to do with the d4-pawn.
11. 6.Be2 – Modest but safe development: on e2 the bishop cannot be hit by ...c4 with tempo, as it could on d3, and castling is prepared.
12. 6...Nc6 – Black adds another attacker to d4: queen, knight and c5-pawn now all bear on it.
13. 7.O-O – White puts the king in safety before deciding the central structure.
14. 7...Be7 – Black completes kingside development and prepares to castle too.
15. 8.Be3 – The bishop protects d4 once more: Black can no longer win it and must exchange.
16. 8...cxd4 – Black clarifies the centre: after the recapture White will have an isolated pawn on d4.
17. 9.cxd4 – White recaptures with the pawn: an isolated d4-pawn, but a half-open c-file and the c3-square free for the knight.
18. 9...O-O – Black castles: his plan is to blockade the isolated pawn and trade pieces.
19. 10.Nc3 – The knight develops with tempo on the d5-queen: the typical dynamic bonus of the isolated-pawn structure.
20. 10...Qd6 – The queen retreats to d6, staying close to the blockading square d5 and eyeing White’s kingside.
21. 11.Rc1 – The rook takes the half-open c-file: it presses on the c6-knight and prepares Nb5 or the d4-d5 push.

How to exploit the position

A classical isolated-queen’s-pawn structure: White has more space and active pieces, Black is solid and aims for the d5-square and exchanges.

• The f3-knight goes to e5, an outpost supported by d4, to press on c6 and f7.
• With Qd2 and Rfd1 White prepares the d4-d5 break, which frees the game when Black’s pieces do not control d5 well.
• Nb5 hits the d6-queen and the c7-square; later Bd3 and Qc2 can aim together at h7.
• Black wants ...Nb4-d5 or ...Nd5 to blockade the pawn: avoid needless trades, since the isolated pawn becomes weak in endgames.

Master tips

The isolated pawn: With the isolated pawn, attack: active pieces, a knight on e5 and the possible d4-d5 push. In endgames, however, the pawn becomes a weakness.

The d5 blockade: Black wants a stable knight on d5 in front of the isolated pawn.

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2...Nf6: main line with 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3

Black attacks e4 with the knight. White gains space with e5, rebuilds the centre and with Bc4-b5 puts pressure on the c6-knight.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Bd7 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.Nc3 e6 12.O-O Be7

1. 2...Nf6 – Black attacks e4 at once: White cannot defend it with Nc3, so he advances.
2. 3.e5 – The pawn advances with tempo and takes f6 away from the knight: White gains space.
3. 3...Nd5 – The knight centralises on d5, where it cannot be chased by c4 since the pawn is on c3.
4. 4.d4 – White builds the e5-d4 centre: if Black exchanges, White wants to recapture with the c3-pawn.
5. 4...cxd4 – Black exchanges at once to make the e5-pawn harder to defend.
6. 5.Nf3 – White develops before recapturing: Nf3 defends e5 and prepares cxd4 with a pawn centre.
7. 5...Nc6 – Black develops, defending d4 and attacking the e5-pawn.
8. 6.cxd4 – White recaptures and obtains the d4-e5 centre, with c3 free for the knight.
9. 6...d6 – Black attacks the head of the chain on e5 so as not to concede White permanent space.
10. 7.Bc4 – The bishop attacks the d5-knight and develops with tempo, also aiming at f7.
11. 7...Nb6 – The knight retreats to b6, attacking the c4-bishop.
12. 8.Bb5 – The bishop pins the c6-knight, one of the defenders against e5 and d4: the pressure stays on.
13. 8...dxe5 – Black takes on e5, aiming to leave White with an isolated d4-pawn.
14. 9.Nxe5 – The knight recaptures on e5 and increases the pressure on the pinned c6-knight.
15. 9...Bd7 – Black defends c6 a second time and prepares to break the pin.
16. 10.Nxd7 – White trades knight for bishop: he removes a defender and keeps the bishop pair.
17. 10...Qxd7 – The queen recaptures and defends c6; Black no longer has immediate pin problems.
18. 11.Nc3 – White completes development: the isolated d4-pawn is offset by the bishop pair and active pieces.
19. 11...e6 – Black opens the f8-bishop and controls d5, the blockading square in front of the isolated pawn.
20. 12.O-O – White castles before seeking the initiative in the centre.
21. 12...Be7 – Black develops his last minor piece and prepares to castle short.

How to exploit the position

White has an isolated d4-pawn but the bishop pair and full development, while Black’s king is still on e8.

• The d4-d5 push: after ...exd5 the e-file opens against the e7-bishop and the black king still in the centre (Re1).
• Qg4 or Qf3 attack g7 and b7, exploiting the fact that Black has not castled yet.
• The c1-bishop goes to f4 or e3 and the rooks to d1 and c1: the half-open c-file pressures the c6-knight.
• Black wants ...O-O, ...Rfd8 and ...Nd5 to blockade d4: against ...a6 decide whether to take on c6 or retreat to d3.

Master tips

The e5-pawn: Early on the e5-pawn takes f6 away from Black and gives White space: defend it with Nf3 and pieces, not with f4.

The bishop pair: After Nxd7 White has two bishops against bishop and knight: open the game to make them count.

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2...Nf6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4

A flexible move order: White first develops with Nf3 and Bc4, then castles and plays d4 when ready.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 d5 7.exd6 Qxd6 8.O-O Be6 9.Bxe6 Qxe6 10.d4

1. 4.Nf3 – White develops before pushing d4: the knight protects e5 and keeps several structures available.
2. 4...Nc6 – Black develops and pressures e5, keeping the c5-pawn that hinders an easy d4.
3. 5.Bc4 – The bishop attacks the d5-knight and develops on the a2-g8 diagonal before d4.
4. 5...Nb6 – The knight retreats with an attack on the bishop, which must choose its post.
5. 6.Bb3 – The bishop stays on the a2-g8 diagonal, safe from ...d5 with tempo and aimed at f7.
6. 6...d5 – Black challenges the e5 point: White can take en passant and open the game.
7. 7.exd6 – Capture en passant: White opens the centre, where his development is quicker.
8. 7...Qxd6 – The queen recaptures and develops, but on d6 it can become a target for White’s pieces.
9. 8.O-O – White castles: the black king on e8 is still in the centre.
10. 8...Be6 – Black develops the bishop and challenges the dangerous b3-bishop.
11. 9.Bxe6 – White trades bishops: the black queen must recapture and ends up on the e-file.
12. 9...Qxe6 – The queen recaptures on e6, but stays exposed to Re1 and Ng5 with Black’s king still in the centre.
13. 10.d4 – White takes the centre and threatens d4-d5, hitting both the queen and the c6-knight.

How to exploit the position

White has castled and leads in development; Black’s queen on e6 and king on e8 stand on the e-file, which may open soon.

• The threat is d4-d5, hitting both the e6-queen and the c6-knight: Black must react at once, usually with ...cxd4.
• Re1 and Ng5 gain time against the e6-queen and increase the pressure on the e-file.
• The b1-knight joins via a3-b5 or d2, aiming at the weakened c7 and d6 squares.
• If Black completes ...e6/...Be7 and castles, things calm down: White then plays against the c5-pawn and along the d-file.

Master tips

The bishop on b3: On b3 the bishop presses on d5 and f7 and is safe from Black’s pawns.

The queen on the e-file: After 9...Qxe6 Black’s queen and king stand on the same file.

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2...e6: Advance French structure

With 2...e6 and 3...d5 Black steers the game into an Advance French. White keeps the c3-d4-e5 chain and gains space with a3 and b4.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.e5 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 c4 7.Nbd2 Nge7 8.b4 cxb3 9.Nxb3

1. 2...e6 – Black prepares ...d5: if White plays d4 we reach French Defence structures.
2. 3.d4 – White carries out his plan and builds the d4-e4 centre.
3. 3...d5 – Black attacks e4: now White opts for an Advance French structure.
4. 4.e5 – White closes the centre with the c3-d4-e5 chain: kingside space and the f6-square taken from Black.
5. 4...Nc6 – Black attacks the base of the chain, d4, as in the Advance French.
6. 5.Nf3 – The knight defends d4 and e5, the two key pawns of the chain.
7. 5...Qb6 – The queen increases the pressure on d4 and indirectly attacks b2.
8. 6.a3 – A typical move: White prepares b4 to gain queenside space and deny b4 to Black’s pieces.
9. 6...c4 – Black closes the queenside and releases the pressure on d4, giving up on undermining the base of the chain.
10. 7.Nbd2 – The knight develops towards b3: White prepares b4 to undermine the c4-pawn.
11. 7...Nge7 – The knight heads for f5 to press on d4 without blocking the f-pawn.
12. 8.b4 – White attacks Black’s chain on the queenside and offers the en passant capture.
13. 8...cxb3 – Black takes en passant so as not to concede White a firm queenside bind.
14. 9.Nxb3 – The knight recaptures and defends d4: White keeps the chain and the b-file opens for his rook.

How to exploit the position

An Advance French structure: White has kingside space thanks to e5 and the open b-file, Black presses on d4 and the backward c3-pawn.

• Bd3, O-O and Rb1: the rook on the b-file attacks the b6-queen and the b7-pawn.
• a3-a4-a5 chases the b6-queen and gains queenside space.
• On the kingside the e5-pawn takes f6 from Black: Bd3 eyes h7, with ideas of h4-h5 or Ng5.
• Black plays ...Nf5, ...Bd7, ...Rc8 and ...Na5 against c3 and c4: keep d4 well defended and cover c4 with Nfd2 or Bd3.

Master tips

The pawn chain: In the Advance French the base of the chain is d4: protect it with c3 and Nf3 and gain queenside space with a3 and b4.

The c3-pawn: After the exchange on b3 the c3-pawn is backward on the half-open c-file.

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2...g6 with 5.e5

Against the fianchetto White builds the centre and closes it with e5: the g7-bishop bites on a well-defended pawn.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.e5 Nc6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Bb5 Nh6 8.Nge2

1. 2...g6 – Black prepares the fianchetto: the g7-bishop wants to press on White’s centre.
2. 3.d4 – White builds the centre at once, since there is no pressure on e4.
3. 3...cxd4 – Black exchanges to open the future g7-bishop’s diagonal towards d4.
4. 4.cxd4 – White recaptures with the pawn: an ideal d4-e4 centre and c3 free for the knight.
5. 4...d5 – Black strikes at e4 so as not to be squeezed: White must choose between exchanging and advancing.
6. 5.e5 – White closes the centre: the g7-bishop’s diagonal runs into a well-protected e5-pawn.
7. 5...Nc6 – Black attacks d4, the pawn that supports White’s whole chain.
8. 6.Nc3 – The knight develops and attacks d5, forcing Black to keep it defended.
9. 6...Bg7 – The bishop develops on the long diagonal, but for now it bites on the e5-pawn.
10. 7.Bb5 – The bishop pins the c6-knight, the piece that attacks d4: White relieves the pressure on his centre.
11. 7...Nh6 – The knight goes to h6 since f6 is controlled by e5: from here it heads for f5 to attack d4.
12. 8.Nge2 – The knight defends d4 from e2 and can go to f4, contesting the black knight heading for f5.

How to exploit the position

A closed d4-e5 centre: the g7-bishop is restricted and White has space, while Black seeks pressure on d4 with ...Nf5 and the ...f6 break.

• Nf4 controls d5 and contests f5 with the h6-knight; alternatively g4 takes f5 away from it.
• O-O, Be3 and Qd2: d4 stays well defended and the queen can go to h6 to trade off the g7-bishop.
• Bxc6 at the right moment leaves Black with doubled c-pawns: then the white knight eyes c5.
• Against ...f6, recapture on f6 only if it opens lines for your pieces: often supporting e5 with f4 is better.

Master tips

Restricting the g7-bishop: With the pawn on e5 supported by d4 and the pieces, the g7-bishop has few prospects.

The f5-square: The h6-knight wants to reach f5 to attack d4.

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Trap: 4...Nxe4?? 5.Qa4+

If Black takes on e4 with the knight, the check Qa4+ attacks the king and the e4-knight at the same time.

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxc5 Nxe4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxe4

1. 2...d6 – Black prepares ...Nf6 without allowing e5 with tempo, but weakens the a4-e8 diagonal.
2. 3.d4 – White occupies the centre with two pawns, as intended by 2.c3.
3. 3...Nf6 – Black attacks e4, which now cannot be defended by Nc3.
4. 4.dxc5 – White takes on c5 and opens the d1-a4 diagonal for the queen: now taking on e4 is dangerous.
5. 4...Nxe4 – A mistake: the knight grabs a pawn but on e4 it is undefended, on the same rank the queen can reach from a4.
6. 5.Qa4+ – A double attack: the queen checks on the a4-e8 diagonal and hits the e4-knight along the fourth rank.
7. 5...Bd7 – Black must parry the check: any interposition leaves the e4-knight hanging.
8. 6.Qxe4 – The queen captures the knight: White is a piece up for a pawn.

How to exploit the position

White has won a piece for a pawn: the trap works because after ...d6 and dxc5 the a4-e8 diagonal is open and the e4-knight is undefended.

• With the extra piece, develop quickly (Nf3, Be2, O-O) and trade pieces: every exchange brings a won ending closer.
• Black will try ...dxc5 and ...Nc6 to get active: you need not hold the c5-pawn, the piece is what counts.
• If you play Black, remember: after 4.dxc5 recapture 4...dxc5 (after 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 the ending is playable), not 4...Nxe4.

Master tips

The Qa4+ double attack: Qa4+ checks along the diagonal and attacks e4 along the rank: after the interposition the queen takes the knight.

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