The alapin is a response to the sicilian. 1.e4 c5 2.c3 I have been in the habit of playing this opening this summer, and recently as I was organizing my games by opening I was shocked and pleased to find that my record against this opening through this summer is 8-1-1. I was very excited until I looked at all the games and realized that the toughest line against it, 2... Nf6 was only played against me twice, one time resulting in my one loss and the other I should have lost and only won through endgame play.
So, on to my point. If anyone plays the sicilian and plays against me, please play 2... Nf6 as I want to find out how I fare against this line and how I feel about the positions that arise. Also, any intelligent opinions on this opening would be gratefully recieved.
Originally posted by thesonofsaulI have played 2 tournament games as white where my opponent played the sicillian, in both I played the alapin without any knowledge of the opening and in both they play nf6, I won 1 and had to accept a draw because I had 41 seconds to promote 2 pawns with a king stopping them from rushing. So to me I think nf6 is losing. I think d5 is a better response. Funnily enough I recently looked up the alapin in the chessmaster 9000 opening books and found I was playing outside of the book with my response to nf6: d3!?
The alapin is a response to the sicilian. 1.e4 c5 2.c3 I have been in the habit of playing this opening this summer, and recently as I was organizing my games by opening I was shocked and pleased to find that my record against this opening through this summer is 8-1-1. I was very excited until I looked at all the games and realized that the toughest l ...[text shortened]... sitions that arise. Also, any intelligent opinions on this opening would be gratefully recieved.
2...Nf6, and then 2...d5 appear to be the two strongest and common responses.
An introduction to a few ideas in the opening (plus an annotated Adams-Huebner game):
http://www.chessplayer.com/alapin2c.htm
Isolated d-pawn position:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070874
Opening is well-played in this super-GM game:
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1070670