Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
47,556 games: White 55.4% / Draw 4.8% / Black 39.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 24,23224K | ||
| 15,12415K | ||
| 4,3724,372 | ||
| 3,6613,661 | ||
| 109109 | ||
| 1919 | ||
| 1010 | ||
| 88 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 7, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.40 White is slightly better
Best play: 9... Nd8 10. O-O e5 11. dxe6 Nxe6 12. Nd4 Be7 13. Bb5+ Kf8 14. Rb1
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit (ECO B50, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Gambit, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nxe4 7. d5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 (9 moves).
In 47,556 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 55.4%, Black 39.8% and 4.8% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…Ne5, in 51% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit
9…Nd8 scores best for Black: 47.8%, with Black winning 45.7% and White 50.1% of 4,372 games. The most played, 9…Ne5, scores 42.6% in 24K games, and 9…Qxc3+ scores lowest: 19.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 9…Nd8.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit (B50)”. Lichess data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-delayed-alapin-variation-basman-palatnik-double-gambit