Ask Coach Jessica: The Anti-Sicilian! Part 1

Hey Chesskids! Welcome to our first Q&A on Wednesday! Our lucky winner is WildMachine, who wants to know what the Alapin Sicilian looks like. Many of you were wondering about the Sicilian - it's my favorite opening and very exciting for both sides. By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl).

The variation known as the Alapin is an "Anti-Sicilian." When someone plays 2.c3, they are shutting down the Open Sicilian that so many players with Black enjoy.  It can definitely throw your opponent into a hurricane of thought since he/she probably didn't prepare for it!  

As with all openings, there are many variations and choices. We will look at the main book moves. 

The Sicilian Defense starts out with 1...c5, and the idea is to attack the center from the side. Black will trade when White plays d4, maintaining two center pawns and getting an open position, which favors long-range pieces. Then, you can attack!

In the c3-Sicilian (also known as the Alapin Sicilian), though, the position will be less open. That's because White plans on capturing back with a pawn on d4, instead of a piece. Black often plays 2...d5 in order to attack White's eventual isolated queen pawn. (To sound really professional, you would call it an IQP position.) Usually I tell my students not to get their queens out so early. But notice how she can't really be kicked, because the pawn is on c3...

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Next, both sides put pressure on d4. White would like to play an aggressive game, and keep her c- and d-pawns together if possible. Black would like to isolate White's d-pawn, then use it as a target later in the game (once it's blocked off).
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Stay tuned next week for Part 2 where we'll see an Alapin in action! I hope this answers your question, WildMachine! And perhaps others', too, who were curious about Anti-Sicilians. Keep your questions coming! Check the forum to post another question to Ask Coach Jessica. See y'all next week!Laughing

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