# Alapin Sicilian > The most solid anti-Sicilian system: a d4-e4 centre without endless theory With 2.c3 White prepares d4 and builds a classical centre, sidestepping the most theoretical Sicilians (Najdorf, Dragon, Sveshnikov). The course covers the two main replies (2...d5 and 2...Nf6) and the most common alternatives, plus a trap based on Qa4+. - URL: https://www.chessopeningsfree.com/en/corsi/alapin-sicilian - Courses: 6 lines · ECO B22 · White - Language: en · Free, no registration needed to study ## Chapter 1: 2...d5 and 2...Nf6 The two main defences and the isolated-pawn structures. ### 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.e4**: White occupies the centre and opens diagonals for the queen and the f1-bishop. - **1...c5**: The Sicilian Defence: Black controls d4 with a flank pawn and creates an imbalance. - **2.c3**: The Alapin: White prepares d4 so that he can recapture with the c3-pawn and keep two pawns in the centre. - **2...d5**: The most direct reply: Black hits e4 before White can play d4. - **3.exd5**: White exchanges: defending e4 with Nc3 is impossible because the c3-square is taken by the pawn. - **3...Qxd5**: The queen recaptures without fear: with the pawn on c3 White cannot gain time with Nc3. - **4.d4**: White takes the centre: if Black exchanges on d4, the c3-pawn recaptures and the knight can later come to c3. - **4...Nf6**: Black develops, controlling e4 and d5 and supporting the centralised queen. - **5.Nf3**: Natural development: the knight defends d4 and prepares castling. - **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. - **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. - **6...Nc6**: Black adds another attacker to d4: queen, knight and c5-pawn now all bear on it. - **7.O-O**: White puts the king in safety before deciding the central structure. - **7...Be7**: Black completes kingside development and prepares to castle too. - **8.Be3**: The bishop protects d4 once more: Black can no longer win it and must exchange. - **8...cxd4**: Black clarifies the centre: after the recapture White will have an isolated pawn on d4. - **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. - **9...O-O**: Black castles: his plan is to blockade the isolated pawn and trade pieces. - **10.Nc3**: The knight develops with tempo on the d5-queen: the typical dynamic bonus of the isolated-pawn structure. - **10...Qd6**: The queen retreats to d6, staying close to the blockading square d5 and eyeing White’s kingside. - **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. Practise this line: https://www.chessopeningsfree.com/en/corsi/alapin-sicilian/al-d5-iqp ### 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** - **2...Nf6**: Black attacks e4 at once: White cannot defend it with Nc3, so he advances. - **3.e5**: The pawn advances with tempo and takes f6 away from the knight: White gains space. - **3...Nd5**: The knight centralises on d5, where it cannot be chased by c4 since the pawn is on c3. - **4.d4**: White builds the e5-d4 centre: if Black exchanges, White wants to recapture with the c3-pawn. - **4...cxd4**: Black exchanges at once to make the e5-pawn harder to defend. - **5.Nf3**: White develops before recapturing: Nf3 defends e5 and prepares cxd4 with a pawn centre. - **5...Nc6**: Black develops, defending d4 and attacking the e5-pawn. - **6.cxd4**: White recaptures and obtains the d4-e5 centre, with c3 free for the knight. - **6...d6**: Black attacks the head of the chain on e5 so as not to concede White permanent space. - **7.Bc4**: The bishop attacks the d5-knight and develops with tempo, also aiming at f7. - **7...Nb6**: The knight retreats to b6, attacking the c4-bishop. - **8.Bb5**: The bishop pins the c6-knight, one of the defenders against e5 and d4: the pressure stays on. - **8...dxe5**: Black takes on e5, aiming to leave White with an isolated d4-pawn. - **9.Nxe5**: The knight recaptures on e5 and increases the pressure on the pinned c6-knight. - **9...Bd7**: Black defends c6 a second time and prepares to break the pin. - **10.Nxd7**: White trades knight for bishop: he removes a defender and keeps the bishop pair. - **10...Qxd7**: The queen recaptures and defends c6; Black no longer has immediate pin problems. - **11.Nc3**: White completes development: the isolated d4-pawn is offset by the bishop pair and active pieces. - **11...e6**: Black opens the f8-bishop and controls d5, the blockading square in front of the isolated pawn. - **12.O-O**: White castles before seeking the initiative in the centre. - **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. Practise this line: https://www.chessopeningsfree.com/en/corsi/alapin-sicilian/al-nf6-main ### 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** - **4.Nf3**: White develops before pushing d4: the knight protects e5 and keeps several structures available. - **4...Nc6**: Black develops and pressures e5, keeping the c5-pawn that hinders an easy d4. - **5.Bc4**: The bishop attacks the d5-knight and develops on the a2-g8 diagonal before d4. - **5...Nb6**: The knight retreats with an attack on the bishop, which must choose its post. - **6.Bb3**: The bishop stays on the a2-g8 diagonal, safe from ...d5 with tempo and aimed at f7. - **6...d5**: Black challenges the e5 point: White can take en passant and open the game. - **7.exd6**: Capture en passant: White opens the centre, where his development is quicker. - **7...Qxd6**: The queen recaptures and develops, but on d6 it can become a target for White’s pieces. - **8.O-O**: White castles: the black king on e8 is still in the centre. - **8...Be6**: Black develops the bishop and challenges the dangerous b3-bishop. - **9.Bxe6**: White trades bishops: the black queen must recapture and ends up on the e-file. - **9...Qxe6**: The queen recaptures on e6, but stays exposed to Re1 and Ng5 with Black’s king still in the centre. - **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. Practise this line: https://www.chessopeningsfree.com/en/corsi/alapin-sicilian/al-nf6-nc6-bc4 ## Chapter 2: Other replies and traps 2...e6, 2...g6 and the Qa4+ blow against 2...d6. ### 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** - **2...e6**: Black prepares ...d5: if White plays d4 we reach French Defence structures. - **3.d4**: White carries out his plan and builds the d4-e4 centre. - **3...d5**: Black attacks e4: now White opts for an Advance French structure. - **4.e5**: White closes the centre with the c3-d4-e5 chain: kingside space and the f6-square taken from Black. - **4...Nc6**: Black attacks the base of the chain, d4, as in the Advance French. - **5.Nf3**: The knight defends d4 and e5, the two key pawns of the chain. - **5...Qb6**: The queen increases the pressure on d4 and indirectly attacks b2. - **6.a3**: A typical move: White prepares b4 to gain queenside space and deny b4 to Black’s pieces. - **6...c4**: Black closes the queenside and releases the pressure on d4, giving up on undermining the base of the chain. - **7.Nbd2**: The knight develops towards b3: White prepares b4 to undermine the c4-pawn. - **7...Nge7**: The knight heads for f5 to press on d4 without blocking the f-pawn. - **8.b4**: White attacks Black’s chain on the queenside and offers the en passant capture. - **8...cxb3**: Black takes en passant so as not to concede White a firm queenside bind. - **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. Practise this line: https://www.chessopeningsfree.com/en/corsi/alapin-sicilian/al-e6-french ### 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** - **2...g6**: Black prepares the fianchetto: the g7-bishop wants to press on White’s centre. - **3.d4**: White builds the centre at once, since there is no pressure on e4. - **3...cxd4**: Black exchanges to open the future g7-bishop’s diagonal towards d4. - **4.cxd4**: White recaptures with the pawn: an ideal d4-e4 centre and c3 free for the knight. - **4...d5**: Black strikes at e4 so as not to be squeezed: White must choose between exchanging and advancing. - **5.e5**: White closes the centre: the g7-bishop’s diagonal runs into a well-protected e5-pawn. - **5...Nc6**: Black attacks d4, the pawn that supports White’s whole chain. - **6.Nc3**: The knight develops and attacks d5, forcing Black to keep it defended. - **6...Bg7**: The bishop develops on the long diagonal, but for now it bites on the e5-pawn. - **7.Bb5**: The bishop pins the c6-knight, the piece that attacks d4: White relieves the pressure on his centre. - **7...Nh6**: The knight goes to h6 since f6 is controlled by e5: from here it heads for f5 to attack d4. - **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. Practise this line: https://www.chessopeningsfree.com/en/corsi/alapin-sicilian/al-g6 ### 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** - **2...d6**: Black prepares ...Nf6 without allowing e5 with tempo, but weakens the a4-e8 diagonal. - **3.d4**: White occupies the centre with two pawns, as intended by 2.c3. - **3...Nf6**: Black attacks e4, which now cannot be defended by Nc3. - **4.dxc5**: White takes on c5 and opens the d1-a4 diagonal for the queen: now taking on e4 is dangerous. - **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. - **5.Qa4+**: A double attack: the queen checks on the a4-e8 diagonal and hits the e4-knight along the fourth rank. - **5...Bd7**: Black must parry the check: any interposition leaves the e4-knight hanging. - **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. Practise this line: https://www.chessopeningsfree.com/en/corsi/alapin-sicilian/al-d6-qa4-trap