The Sicilian Alapin: Essentials (Black Repertoire)

By Theo van Stratum

A Black repertoire against the Alapin Variation (1.e4 c5 2.c3), the most popular way White sidesteps the main-line Open Sicilian entirely. Covers Black's four main answers -- the critical, central 2...d5, the provocative 2...Nf6 (met by White's own thematic 3.e5 advance and answered with ...d6), the flexible 2...e6, and the hypermodern fianchetto with 2...g6 -- each reaching a sound, comfortable position without conceding anything concrete.