Question about Avoiding the Alapin via Transposition

I really like playing traditional sicilian lines as black, however because I'm not the best player and it really ruins the lines I like to play I am very uncomfortable whenever I come across the Alapin. I really don't feel like it gives me opportunities to attack than something like the Dragon would.

So my question is if it is sound to enter the sicilian via 1...d6.

Most players seeing this will likely play into and expect the Pirc to come out however if I play 2...c5 I am basically forcing an open sicilian line, am I not?

By playing with the simple change of move order I feel that this would aleviate my concerns with playing the Sicilian and I would be far less likely to run into lines I am not comfortable with.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Especially if there are traps or harmful inaccuracies I'd be likely to run in to.

 

Thanks.

1) e4 d6 2) d4 c5

I'm assuming this is the move order you're expecting?  Sure, if White plays 3) Nf3, then you've got an Open Sicilian, but delaying the c-pawn's advance gives White a few other options.  I'm not an expert on this stuff, but here are three moves that jump out at me:  

3) d5, and you're looking at a Benoni-type structure, so you'd have to be comfortable playing the Benoni--it's a defense against 1) d4 in case you didn't know.  

3) cxd5, I don't know what this is, but it will probably end up better for White after either 3) ...dxc5 4) Qxd8+ Kxd8 or 3) ...Qa5+ 4) Nc3 Qxc5.

3) c3, wouldn't this end up in Alapin-like lines anyway?  I'm not sure if there's really a way to avoid the idea completely.

Benoni is my go response to 1. d5 so that's no issue, I know my lines there.

Of course there's no way to avoid the potential for 3.c3, however most of the literature I've looked at regarding the Alapin cites 2...d6 as the most aggressive response to the Alapin, which I'd imagine would act as a deterrent of sorts, at the very least making it less common?

3. cxd5 is actually a transposition into the Pterodactyl lines which I used to play so I'm fairly comfortable there and I don't actually lose the ability to castle after 3...Qa5+ 4.nc3 Qxc5. I lose a bit of tempo, but I get attacking the f2 square and it's not a terrible position.

 

Thanks for the response though, I think I'll muck around with it for a bit and see how it goes.

ok...nice try

EspUmb wrote: Benoni is my go response to 1. d5 so that's no issue, I know my lines there.Of course there's no way to avoid the potential for 3.c3, however most of the literature I've looked at regarding the Alapin cites 2...d6 as the most aggressive response to the Alapin, which I'd imagine would act as a deterrent of sorts, at the very least making it less common?3. cxd5 is actually a transposition into the Pterodactyl lines which I used to play so I'm fairly comfortable there and I don't actually lose the ability to castle after 3...Qa5+ 4.nc3 Qxc5. I lose a bit of tempo, but I get attacking the f2 square and it's not a terrible position. Thanks for the response though, I think I'll muck around with it for a bit and see how it goes.

EspUmb wrote: Benoni is my go response to 1. d5 so that's no issue, I know my lines there.Of course there's no way to avoid the potential for 3.c3, however most of the literature I've looked at regarding the Alapin cites 2...d6 as the most aggressive response to the Alapin, which I'd imagine would act as a deterrent of sorts, at the very least making it less common?3. cxd5 is actually a transposition into the Pterodactyl lines which I used to play so I'm fairly comfortable there and I don't actually lose the ability to castle after 3...Qa5+ 4.nc3 Qxc5. I lose a bit of tempo, but I get attacking the f2 square and it's not a terrible position. Thanks for the response though, I think I'll muck around with it for a bit and see how it goes.

EspUmb wrote: Benoni is my go response to 1. d5 so that's no issue, I know my lines there.Of course there's no way to avoid the potential for 3.c3, however most of the literature I've looked at regarding the Alapin cites 2...d6 as the most aggressive response to the Alapin, which I'd imagine would act as a deterrent of sorts, at the very least making it less common?3. cxd5 is actually a transposition into the Pterodactyl lines which I used to play so I'm fairly comfortable there and I don't actually lose the ability to castle after 3...Qa5+ 4.nc3 Qxc5. I lose a bit of tempo, but I get attacking the f2 square and it's not a terrible position. Thanks for the response though, I think I'll muck around with it for a bit and see how it goes.

Playing a bad move-order that allows 1.e4 d6 2.d4 c5 3.dc Qa5+ 4.Nc3 Qc5 5.Be3 just to avoid one of the lesser testing lines against the Sicilian seems a major over-reaction IMO.  I would advise actually studing the Alapin...both the 2..Nf6 and 2..d5 lines are unique and fun in their own way...2.c3 is nothing to fear as a Sicilian player, and to be honest, if this variation does intimidate you then maybe you shouldn't play the Sicilian...as once you start playing stronger opponents you will actually have something fear: prepared Yugoslav players 

If you want to play the Sicilian then you need to know how to play the Anti-Sicilians because I should imagine you will be facing them a lot below any rating of 1600, and possibly 1800.

I recommend 2..g6 because I'm swag.

Just prepare against all different kind of replies.  If your opponent goes for a Moscow for example you'll make him wish he'd go for a mainline Najdorf soon enough.  It doesn't lose for white of course but if black knows the theory he equalizes faster in the Moscow than the mainlines.