I just joined this tournament put am the only player rated over 2000+

Lately there's been a lot of mis-informed talk about 2. c3 not being a strong system vs. the Sicilian.

So I challenge you.  If you're rated 2000+ join the following tourney.  I'll be happy to give you 2. c3 Sicilian lessons in the second round.

http://www.chess.com/tournament/sicilian-defence-alapin-variation-tournament

e4 c5 c3 d5 =

Come join the tourney!  If you are a Sicilian player you need to know how to face 2. c3.  In which case, you can learn as much (if not more) about the variation(s) by playing the White side of it too.

c3 is a fine system that's well respected.

Something I like to play against this is 3. exd5 Qxd5  4. Nf3 instead of the immediate 4. d4.  If 4. Nf3 Bg4!?  5. Qa4+ forces 5...Bd7 when White can enter relatively un-charted waters (only 7 games in megabase) with 6. Qf4 with some threats based on Bc4.  Its pretty balanced but worth a shot for the tactics, particularly at faster time limits, where Black players might miss that their bishop on g4 is threatened by Qa4+, or they might fall for 5...Qd7?  6. Bb5 Nc6  7. Ne5

You wouldn't know that from the arguments I was getting in a forum post earlier this week.

I'd join if I didn't have to play the white side of it too .

I don't have any experience with this line at all, so just throwing this out there, after 4.Nf3 it seems like 4...e5 is the most logical follow up.  If d4 anyway maybe cx cx and Nc6.  Or just 4...Nc6 right away, which allows Bg4 to work (taking away that Qa4+ thing).

Not that it's a killer, but black does seem equal already :)

It's not that the alapine is bad, it's just that the open sicilian is...*gasp* better.

A system that makes it hard for white to gain theoretical advantage and has one playing from mostly equal positions is not 'weak' but is not all that desirous either for high level players.

Below 2200 anything is feasible so long as it does not lose outright.

The Alapin is indeed played by some GMs and IMs but on the very top level rarely seen, I think. Its main virtue seems to be that it makes it hard for the Black to play for a win without taking undue risks, while the White has a bit more winning chances but will still likely have to settle for half point against competent play.

If you are an ambitious amateur and want to improve more quickly, I think it's better (also...more fun?) to play something more tactically rich and aggressive then the alapine. 

To me the beauty of the Alapin when playing as white is that it saves one from having to study for literally hundreds of hours to be prepared to face the "main" Open lines of the Sicilian, i.e. the Najdorf, Sveningen, etc.

I have been spending a considerable amount of my opening preperation time learning the Najdorf as black, and it's (obviously) very complex.

So as white the option to simply sidestep with 2. c3 is worth it.