Caissa Codex
B22

Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack after 6. Bb3

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

Play any move on the board to explore from there, or step through the line with ‹ › and the arrow keys.

Statistics from Lichess

127,907 games: White 49.1% / Draw 6.6% / Black 44.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
43,88844K
38,01138K
20,00820K
15,68316K
7,6997,699
1,9971,997
316316
173173

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 7, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.18 The position is about equal

Best play: 6... c4 7. Bc2 d5 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. O-O Bg4 10. Re1 O-O-O 11. Qe2

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack (ECO B22, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 (6 moves).

In 127,907 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.1%, Black 44.3% and 6.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 6…c4, in 34% of those games.

It continues into one named variation, Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack, Ivanchuk Line.

Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.

Write a description or report a mistake
What would you like to send?

Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links). Submissions are reviewed before publishing.

How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack

6…g6 scores best for Black: 49.6%, with Black winning 46.5% and White 47.3% of 7,699 games. The most played, 6…c4, scores 48.6% in 44K games, and 6…e6 scores lowest: 42.9%. Stockfish's first choice is 6…c4.

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

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 2…Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3, the position after Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack (B22)”. Lichess data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-alapin-variation-stoltz-attack

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-alapin-variation-stoltz-attack