Alapin Sicilian

Could anyone tell me what the Alapin Sicilian is as I have been hearing it and want to know what it is. i might even play the Alapin Sicilian.

That diagram was meant to illustrate a slightly sneakier way to enter the Alapin.  Sorry.  

Could you tell me what to play for black

Against the Alapin, I'd recommend 2...d5 or 2...Nf6.

what about 2 ...e6 and assume Black is fine with transposition to the french? What are the independent Alapin lines that don't just become French Advanced or french tarrasch?

I like the Taimanov and Paulsen Sicilians with early e6. If somebody tries 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 c3, then i play 3..d5. I also push d5-d4 if they don't immediately play d2-d4.

Five, i dont understand your point. You are more precise usually. Why exactly is 5.Nf3 better than 5.cxd4 and not just a move transposition?

Addon: And why - after 5.cxd4 - is 6.Bc4 better than 6.Nf3? I can see no variation where Qh5 makes sense in my ..e6 line.

@Morph Morra is =+ and Alapin is =

Addon: 2.d4 is probably the second worst white move, 2.Ba6 being the worst.

White has no advantage at all in the Alapin/ delayed Alapin, but this is of no real value: white has a very playable game without much theory.

I don't play the Alapin, but I do play the delayed alapin sporadically after Chucky uncorked his brilliant equalizer in the Moscow Anti-Sicilian.

Oh, and of course the right approach for white after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 is not 4.Be2 (Black is just fine after 4...g6) but rather the more sophisticated 4.h3! which stops ...Bg4 and retains the possibility to deploy the bishop at d3.

I agree.

The current state of knowledge in this thread is:

If you like the e6 ,and d6 line it might be worth looking into what Aagard says about it in his anti-sicilian book. Personally think the nb6 line is easier.

The October 2014 issue of Chess Life ran an article about 1 e4 c5 2 c3 . An introduction to the line can also be found in a section of Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html . Informant #119 had the first installment of a series of articles on 1 e4 c5 2 c3. Perhaps it will all be in a single book someday. Two recent books are Starting Out: The c3 Sicilian by John Emms (2008) https://web.archive.org/web/20140627022143/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen116.pdf

and The Complete c3 Sicilian by Evgeny Sveshnikov (2010).

https://web.archive.org/web/20140626234618/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen141.pdf

I believe that the DVD, Killer c3 Sicilian by Sam Collins https://web.archive.org/web/20140626220045/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen152.pdf

appeared in 2011. Advice for Black can be found in Experts on the Anti-Sicilian edited by Jacob Aagaard and John Shaw (2011) https://web.archive.org/web/20140626195254/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen147.pdf

and Sveshnikov vs. the Anti-Sicilians by Evgeny Sveshnikov (2014). http://www.thechessmind.net/blog/2014/12/30/a-review-of-sveshnikov-vs-the-anti-sicilians.html

There is also Power play 21: A Repertoire for Black Against the Anti-Sicilians by Daniel King.

I play the Alapin against the Sicilian and it amazes me how often it turns into a very unfavorable and cramped version of the French Defense for Black because they are missing the classic c7-c5 pawn break that they usually get in the French. These positions can hardly be what a Sicilian player wants out of that opening. Classic example: 1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.e5 cxd4 5.cxd4 and it looks like a horrible version of French Advance Variation. This type of French-like setup can happen with different moves that may include Black playing an earlier Nf6. 

I think Black’s best reply to the Alapin is 2...d5. He should shy away from White locking the center with an e5 pawn push unless he likes playing a French-like position. But, if he did, you’d think he’d play 1...e6 instead of 1...c5. 

After 1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.e5 you DO have a French advance proper.

Why Black should comply and take at d4 that early?

Because his opponents have no clue what they're doing!?

I don't like playing the Sicilian, but this move often leads to open positions and a game somewhat similar to games after 1.e4 e5, Alekhine Defense, and Queen's Gambit and maybe Nimzo-Indian. It has become popular, and easily the 2nd most common move 2 against the Sicilian.