Ask Coach Jessica: The Anti-Sicilian! Part 2

Hey Chesskids! For our Q&A article, WildMachine was our winner last week, and he wanted to know about the Alapin Sicilian. Today we will go a little more in depth and look at a game played in the European Championships using the Alapin. By, Mrs Jessica E Prescott (aka BoundingOwl).

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Can you predict what a game might look like using the Alapin opening? Here is an example where White harasses Black's king all over the board. Whee!
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Now what? How can you threaten mate and how would Black stop it?
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Next White creates a mating net around the king. He is trying to limit Black's choices. Good chess players restrict their opponent's moves!
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Do you know why Black resigned here? There are three checkmates!  One is a devious discovery!  Click on the move list to see all the solutions.
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Nice! OK so here's a quick quiz!! Wink
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1.  Why is it OK to get your queen out so early for Black?
2.  When is the right time for Black to take cxd4?
3.  What is White's idea with the c3-Sicilian (Alapin) opening?
4.  How much did you memorize - how many moves deep can you play out the opening?
5.  Is the IQP is a weakness in the beginning/middle/endgame? Therefore White would like to ____________________.
Answers
1.  White's knight can't make it to c3 so it's OK to get your queen out to d5.
2.  When White plays Be3, he/she is ready to capture c5. So don't give him a chance!
3.  To throw off your Sicilan-trained opponent, to attack d4, to avoid the Open Sicilian structure, to keep c- and d- pawns together.
4.  All of them, I hope!
5.  Endgame; attack in the middlegame!
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Fantastic work Chesskids! So, whose brain-bending question will be answered next week?!

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