Sicilian Alapin

Play as WhiteAnti-Sicilian

White builds a big pawn center with c3 and d4, avoiding the main Sicilian theory.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O Be7

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... c5 — The Sicilian: fight for the d4 square from the side.
3. 2. c3 — The Alapin: prepare d4 to build a big center.
4. 2... d5 — Strike at the center at once.
5. 3. exd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
6. 3... Qxd5 — Takes the pawn on d5.
7. 4. d4 — Build the big pawn center.
8. 4... Nf6 — Brings the knight into the game.
9. 5. Nf3 — Brings the knight into the game.
10. 5... e6 — Solid: support d5 and free the bishop.
11. 6. Be2 — Brings the bishop into the game.
12. 6... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
13. 7. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
14. 7... Be7 — Brings the bishop into the game.

Related openings

• Closed Sicilian
• Sicilian Rossolimo

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