Learn the Alapin Anti-Sicilian

B22 · a repertoire for white · 8 chapters · 46 annotated lines

"Skip their prep — own the center"

The Alapin (1.e4 c5 2.c3) is the club player's answer to the Sicilian: instead of memorizing Open Sicilian theory against the Najdorf, Dragon and friends, White simply builds the c3+d4 center and plays chess. This course covers the critical 2...Nf6 and 2...d5 main lines move by move, the flexible 2...Nc6 and the Barmen strike 5...d6, then shows how every sideline — 2...e6, 2...d6, even 2...e5 — walks into the same space-eating machine. Pairs with the Italian Game for a complete 1.e4 repertoire.

What's inside

• Chapter 1: The Main Line — 2...Nf6
  Lines: The Main Line: 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5, The Knight Hunt: 7...Nb6 8.Bb5!
• Chapter 2: Punishing the Queen Grab — 2...d5
  Lines: The Queen Grab: 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5, The Central Counter: 4...e5, The Delayed Recapture: 3...Nf6, The Poisoned Pawn: 7...Qxd4??
• Chapter 3: The Sidelines — 2...e6, 2...d6, 2...e5
  Lines: The French Style: 2...e6 3.d4 d5 4.exd5, The Slow Setups: 2...d6 and the Fianchetto, Back Home: 2...e5 — Where Ng5 Actually Works, The Check Trick: 5...Nf6 6.Bb5+, The d4 Prod: 2...d6 with ...Nc6 and ...Bg4, The Clamp Dodge: 5...c4, The Other Recapture: 4...Qxd5
• Chapter 4: The Flexible Knight — 2...Nc6
  Lines: 3.Nf3 e6 — One Net for Every Fish, 3...d5 and the 6...e5 Trick, The Fianchetto Trap: 3...g6
• Chapter 5: The Barmen Defense — 5...d6
  Lines: 5...d6 — Trade the Wedge, Hunt the Queen, Barmen II: 6...exd6 — The Backward Pawn
• Chapter 6: Main Line Mastery — Deeper into 2...Nf6
  Lines: The Modern 6...b6 and the Ng5 Attack, 7...Nb6 and the Queenless Grind, The Sidestep: 10...Nb6 in the Tabiya, The Greedy Knight: 3...Ne4?, The Full Retreat: 3...Ng8
• Chapter 7: The IQP Masterclass — 2...d5 Deepened
  Lines: The Solid Shell: 4...Nf6 and 5...e6, The Fianchetto Grab: 4...g6 and 6.Na3!, The d5 Break: Liquidate into a Won Ending, The Outside Bishop: 5...Bf5, The Full Retreat: 8...Qd8
• Chapter 8: Rare Birds — 2...g6, 2...b6, 2...Qa5
  Lines: The Wing Fianchetto: 2...g6 and the e5 Clamp, The Hedgehog Bishop: 2...b6, The Sideways Queen: 2...Qa5, The Queen Prod: 4...Qb6

Free sample: the main line, move by move

• 1. e4 — 1.e4
• 1... c5 — The Sicilian — the one reply where our 2.Nf3-and-Bc4 plan doesn't work. Time for a different weapon.
• 2. c3 — 2.c3! The Alapin. The idea could not be simpler: White will play d4, recapture with the c-pawn, and own the full center. No Open Sicilian theory, no Dragon, no Najdorf — Black's preparation goes in the bin on move two.
• 2... Nf6 — 2...Nf6 — the critical test: the knight attacks e4 before d4 arrives.
• 3. e5 — 3.e5 — push with tempo. The knight gets chased to d5, where c3 (already played!) means no Nc3 trade... but also means the knight can be harassed later.
• 3... Nd5 — 3...Nd5 — the only good square.
• 4. d4 — 4.d4 — the whole point of 2.c3: the second central pawn arrives with full support.
• 4... cxd4 — 4...cxd4.
• 5. Nf3 — 5.Nf3! Develop before recapturing — 5.cxd4 first allows an annoying ...d6 hit. The d4 pawn isn't running away.
• 5... e6 — 5...e6 — the solid main line, giving the f8 bishop air.
• 6. cxd4 — 6.cxd4 — now recapture. Look at the result: pawns on d4 and e5, exactly the space-eating duo Black plays the Sicilian to prevent.
• 6... d6 — 6...d6 — chipping at the e5 wedge.
• 7. Bc4 — 7.Bc4 — our favorite diagonal again, and it hits the d5 knight: Black must always watch for the bishop capturing it at the right moment.
• 7... Nc6 — 7...Nc6 — pressuring d4.
• 8. O-O — 8.O-O — king safe before the center opens.
• 8... Be7 — 8...Be7.
• 9. Qe2 — 9.Qe2 — the multi-purpose move: the queen backs the e5 pawn, clears d1 for a rook, and keeps an eye on the e-file for when it opens.
• 9... O-O — 9...O-O.
• 10. Nc3 — 10.Nc3 — develop with a question: trade on c3 and strengthen our center, or retreat and lose time?
• 10... Nxc3 — 10...Nxc3 — most common.
• 11. bxc3 — 11.bxc3 — recapture toward the center: d4 is now rock-solid and the b-file half-opens for a rook.
• 11... dxe5 — 11...dxe5 — releasing the tension.
• 12. dxe5 — 12.dxe5 — keep the wedge. The e5 pawn cramps Black's kingside for the rest of the game.
• 12... Qc7 — 12...Qc7 — hitting e5 a second time.
• 13. Qe4 — 13.Qe4! Defending e5 while swinging toward the black king — Bd3 next would threaten mate on h7.
• 13... g6 — 13...g6 — stopping the battery, but weakening the dark squares...
• 14. Bh6 — 14.Bh6 — ...which White occupies immediately, hitting the f8 rook.
• 14... Re8 — 14...Re8.
• 15. Rad1 — 15.Rad1 — the full Alapin dream: space, the d-file, dark-square grip, attacking chances. And not one move of Open Sicilian theory was required.

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