Sicilian: Alapin, 2...d6

Sicilian: Alapin

Definition

The Alapin Variation of the Sicilian Defence begins with the moves 1. e4 c5 2. c3. Named after the Russian-French master Semyon Alapin (1856-1923), it is an anti-Sicilian system in which White temporarily refrains from the customary 2. Nf3 and instead prepares to build a broad pawn centre with d4.

Typical Ideas & Usage

• Pawn centre. After 2. c3, White aims for d2-d4, recapturing with a pawn to establish an ideal e4–d4 duo.
• Piece placement. Knights usually appear on f3 and f3, the light-squared bishop often goes to d3 or b5, and the dark-squared bishop can choose g2 (after g3) or e2.
• Black’s replies. The most challenging reactions are:
  • 2…Nf6 (accelerated pressure on e4)
  • 2…d5 (immediate central break)
  • 2…e6, 2…g6, or the subject of the second entry below, 2…d6.
• Transpositional power. The move 2.c3 can transpose into structures from the French, the Caro-Kann, or even certain Queen’s Gambit positions, making it attractive to players who prefer to avoid deep Sicilian theory.

Strategic & Historical Significance

The Alapin has long served as a practical weapon against the labyrinthine main lines of the Open Sicilian. Early-20th-century masters such as Alapin himself, Alekhine and Schlechter experimented with it, but its modern renaissance dates from the computer era, when players like Sergei Tiviakov, Evgeny Sveshnikov, and Peter Svidler demonstrated its soundness at elite level.

Illustrative Game

A crisp attacking win that shows typical Alapin themes: Fabiano Caruana – Hikaru Nakamura, London Classic 2015

White’s harmonious development and central pawns paved the way for a kingside assault.

Interesting Facts

• Because 2. c3 appears calm, club players sometimes call the Alapin the “quiet anti-Sicilian” — but database statistics reveal a scoring percentage for White on par with the aggressive Open Sicilian.
• In 2018 the engine-centric TCEC championship saw the Alapin employed dozens of times, confirming its theoretical health even against computer-level defence.

2...d6 in the Sicilian Alapin

Definition

After 1. e4 c5 2. c3, the move 2…d6 is a flexible sideline that postpones the traditional counterblows (Nf6 or d5) and instead mirrors a Scheveningen-style setup. The ECO code is B40.

Strategic Purpose

• Structure first. Black solidifies the e5-square, prepares …Nf6, …Nc6, and keeps options open for …g6 or …e6.
• Transposition potential. Depending on White’s reaction, play can transpose to a Closed Sicilian, a King’s Indian Attack reversed, or a Maroczy Bind-type structure.
• Psychological value. Because 2…d6 is less common than the critical 2…Nf6 or 2…d5, it can steer the game away from heavy theory and force opponents to think early.

Typical Continuations

1. 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bd3 (Main line) – White grabs space; Black aims for …e5 or …g6.
2. 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 – A deferred central break, leading to Scheveningen structures.
3. 3. d4 Nf6 4. f3 Nc6 5. Be3 – A hybrid with ideas from the English Attack.

Model Mini-Game

The game, a 2019 rapid encounter between Nepomniachtchi and Mamedyarov, illustrates how the …d6 setup can survive White’s space advantage and create dynamic counterplay on the kingside and central dark squares.

Practical Considerations

• The line appeals to players who already employ Scheveningen or Najdorf structures; many of their middlegame patterns carry over almost intact.
• Modern engines evaluate 2…d6 as playable but slightly inferior (≈ +0.20) compared with 2…Nf6 or 2…d5, mostly because White’s pawn centre is left unchecked.
• While rarely seen in World Championship matches, it has surfaced in elite rapid and blitz events where surprise value is paramount.

Interesting Tidbits

• In Mega-database searches, 2…d6 occurs in roughly 5 % of Alapin games. Yet its win-rate for Black is virtually identical to the more fashionable 2…e6 line, suggesting it is underrated.
• Grandmaster Gata Kamsky, known for his solid, positional style, has used 2…d6 sporadically to avoid opponent preparation, scoring several instructive endgame wins.
• Should White try the flashy 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxc5?! Black’s recapture …Nxe4 often nets a pawn and the initiative – a common trap worth remembering.