Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
Also known as Alapin Sicilian or c3 Sicilian
The Alapin Variation (1.e4 c5 2.c3) is one of the most respected ways to avoid the Open Sicilian Defense. Read the guide
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Statistics from Lichess
21,791,419 games: White 49.4% / Draw 5.2% / Black 45.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 5,982,5196M | ||
| 4,057,2664.1M | ||
| 3,344,4773.3M | ||
| 3,126,2523.1M | ||
| 2,712,3322.7M | ||
| 1,059,2031.1M | ||
| 1,039,8521M | ||
| 260,649261K |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 9, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.13 The position is about equal
Best play: 2... Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 d6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nc6 7. Bc4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
By rating
Rating changes little here: White scores 52% under 1400, 53% at 2200 and up and 50% in master games (wins plus half the draws).
| Players | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1400 | 3M | |
| 1400–1799 | 11.4M | |
| 1800–2199 | 12.6M | |
| 2200 and up | 2.2M | |
| Masters, over the board | 38K |
Master games
- Carlsen, M. – Nepomniachtchi, I.
- Nepomniachtchi, I. – Carlsen, M.
- Carlsen, M. – Giri, A.
- Carlsen, M. – Giri, A.
- Carlsen, M. – Erigaisi, A.
Rated blitz, rapid and classical Lichess games by rating band, and over-the-board games of players rated 2200+ from the Lichess masters database, updated Sep 26, 2026
Description
The Alapin Variation (1.e4 c5 2.c3) is one of the most respected ways to avoid the Open Sicilian Defense. Instead of playing Nf3 and d4 and exchanging on d4, White prepares d4 with c3, so that a pawn, not a piece, can recapture and White keeps a strong pawn centre.
Origins
It is named after the Russian master Semyon Alapin (1856–1923). For many years it was not highly regarded, because 2...d5 was thought to give Black easy equality. It is closely associated with grandmasters such as Evgeny Sveshnikov, Eduardas Rozentalis and Sergei Tiviakov, and today it is considered one of the most solid and respectable Anti-Sicilians. World champions from Anatoly Karpov and Garry Kasparov to Viswanathan Anand have used it; Deep Blue played it against Kasparov in their 1996 match, and Magnus Carlsen played it in a tiebreak of the 2023 FIDE World Cup.
The idea
White wants a classical centre with pawns on e4 and d4. Black's two main answers both hit e4 before d4 comes:
- 2...d5: after 3.exd5 Qxd5 the queen is safe on d5 because White's knight cannot come to c3 with tempo.
- 2...Nf6: the knight attacks e4, and after 3.e5 Nd5 the game becomes a fight over White's advanced pawn.
Main lines
- Barmen Defense 2...d5 3.exd5 Qxd5, with the Central Exchange 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 and the Modern Line 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4.
- 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5, with 4.d4 cxd4 (Smith-Morra Declined) or 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 (Stoltz Attack).
- Rarer replies: 2...e6, 2...d6 and 2...e5.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Avoids the huge theory of the Open Sicilian (Najdorf, Dragon, Sveshnikov...).
- Clear plans for White: a pawn centre, and often an isolated d-pawn with active pieces.
- Solid: White takes few risks.
Weaknesses
- Black equalises comfortably with accurate play in both main lines.
- 2.c3 takes the c3-square from White's knight, so development is slower than in the Open Sicilian.
Who should play it
The Alapin suits 1.e4 players who want a sound, low-theory answer to the Sicilian and are happy in positions with an isolated queen's pawn. It is an especially good fit for players who don't want to learn the Open Sicilian main lines.
The numbers
On Lichess results barely change with rating: White wins 49–49.9% and Black 42.9–46.6%, and draws rise from 3.5% under 1400 to 8.1% from 2200 up. In master games over the board, White wins 28.5%, Black 27.7% and 43.8% are drawn.
Suggest an improvement or report a mistake
How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
2…Nf6 scores best for Black: 50.6%, with Black winning 47.6% and White 46.4% of 2.7M games. The most played answer, 2…Nc6, scores lowest: 46.0% in 6M games. Stockfish's first choice is also 2…Nf6.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Popularity by year
The Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation has gained ground since 2016: 0.95% of Lichess games in 2025, up from 0.73%.
Numbers by year
| Year | Share of games | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.73% | 261,445 |
| 2017 | 0.76% | 417,007 |
| 2018 | 0.78% | 610,330 |
| 2019 | 0.75% | 931,220 |
| 2020 | 0.74% | 2,160,365 |
| 2021 | 0.79% | 3,082,891 |
| 2022 | 0.8% | 2,999,592 |
| 2023 | 0.88% | 3,300,316 |
| 2024 | 0.91% | 3,253,299 |
| 2025 | 0.95% | 3,304,236 |
| 2026 (Jan–Apr) | 0.98% | 1,073,765 |
Share of rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500 (blitz, rapid and classical) that reach this position, by year; 2026: January to April. Which openings are rising and falling
Variations (5)
All 10 named lines that continue from here
- B22 Anti-Alapin Gambit 3 moves
- B22 Barmen Defense 3 moves
- B22 Smith-Morra Declined 4 moves
- B22 Stoltz Attack 6 moves
- B22 Sicilian Defense: Heidenfeld Variation 5 moves
- B22 Central Exchange 6 moves
- B22 Milner-Barry Attack 8 moves
- B22 Modern Line 5 moves
- B22 Ivanchuk Line 8 moves
- B22 Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation 9 moves
Sources
- History and theory: adapted from the Wikipedia article Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation, version of 27 May 2026, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Results: Lichess opening explorer, figures collected from September to November 2026.
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation (B22)”. Lichess data as of 9 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-alapin-variation