Alapin Sicilian or 2. a3 Sicilian better?

Is the Alapin Sicilian or the 2. a3 Sicilian better at the 1200-1300 level?

I don't think there is one single answer to that question. A lot depends on your style of play, and a lot depends in how much time you have in which to study openings, and a lot depends on what you are playing chess "for". 2. a3 has the merits of simplifying one's opening studies (especially if one responds to 1. c4 with 1..., e5 as Black because there can be similarities between the two sets of positions) but the Alapin is perhaps more likely to help one improve one's level of chess understanding because it can lead to quite a wide variety of instructive middlegame position-types and Pawn structures. But the wide range does mean more time studying the opening itself and learning the likely themes of the resulting middlegame positions.

I say neither!

I say play the Bowlder Attack.

It is a Low Level Meta line even though it isn’t great in higher chess levels, but it is great starting line.

The Bowlder Attack is like below:

2.Bc4 is main move order, but I recommend starting with Nf3.

Later on when you reach 1400

You can change lines to a more stronger line such as the Fischer Sozin Attack.

However, Since you are a beginner I wouldn’t play it and play the Bowlder Attack.

The Fisher Sozin line has more theory and is more complex.

The Bowlder Attack is not as great, but it is very simple and easy to play.

I think it's too easy to play against the bowdler attack, and positions end up symmetrical and somewhat bland.

I've always been biased against gambits, so I'm going to say alapin, but if you enjoy them you can make the wing gambit or delayed (2.a3) wing gambit work.

The alapin is solid, although it can lead to positions where if Black is fully prepared and booked up, White can't avoid allowing eventual equality, however this also makes it difficult for Black to play for a win, without extremely good technical endgame knowledge, and dealing with various pawn structures (for example, isolated pawns at d4 vs c6 in one of the main lines).

You can also try 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 c3 as an alternative, although 3 c3 is a bit stronger against 2...Nc6, instead of 2...d6, where it is not very effective as long as Black knows exactly what he's doing.

2 a3 should be avoided if you expect to win as White. You lose the advantage of the first move and then are fighting for equality, because after 2...g6!, you can't continue with your plan of 3 b4 and expect to apply any sort of pressure, because 3...Bg7 is extremely awkward. You have to reply 4 Nc3 or 4 c3 (yet another non-developing move), and 4 Nc3 d6 followed by 5....a6 or 5...Nc6 or 5...Nf6, and White has pretty bad central control and has made weaknesses on the queenside. For example, after whatever average white 5th move made, after 5...Nc6, 6 b5 is met by...Nd4.

Maybe marginally best is 5 Rb1 Nc6 6 Bc4 e6 7 Nf3 a6, and Black is already threatening ...b5, and White can't move his d-pawn at all. So 8 bxc5 dxc5 9 a4 (9 Bb2 b5!) Nf6 10 d3 Nd7 followed by castles and Black has absolutely no problems to worry about.

Alright, thanks for all of your guys' advice!

Why not the Open?