Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
Chess opening · ECO B22 · 3 half-moves
1. e4 c5 2. c3
The Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation is reached after 1. e4 c5 2. c3. It is Black's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Sicilian Defense with 2. c3.
How often it is played
The Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation and its variations appeared in 0.59% of games — 17,676 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 77 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 51%, 4.1% were drawn and Black won 45%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.27 — a small edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 | 2.1% |
| Sicilian Defense: French Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 | 1.3% |
| Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations | 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 | 1.2% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense | 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 | 0.08% |
| Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined | 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 | 0.05% |
| Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Anti-Alapin Gambit | 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Nf6 | 0.01% |
| Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack | 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 | 0.00% |
| Sicilian Defense: Heidenfeld Variation | 1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Na3 | 0.00% |
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