Seeking advice for black in the 2. ...Nf6 Alapin
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Jan 18, 2025
0
#2
honestly, i think the d5 lines are safer and more fun. But if u play nf6, you should go for e6 and d6 early and try to break Their center up in pieces.
Honestly, I kind of agree w/ you on the point about 2. ...d5 lines. The main reason I've opted for Nf6 is because it should theoretically cut down on my study time by a massive margin, since it cuts out both the Smith-Morra and the delayed Alapin lines (at least for how I play it). I also like the idea of gaining experience much faster relative to my opponents, but it's been a couple of years now and I still find myself in positions where white gets a free attack and I'm stuck defending.
I usually get something like this:
After reaching this point in development I take on e5 as many times as my opponent allows and try to castle. In the future, if I develop w/ Be7, I have to defend a straightforward attack against h7 for most of the game. If I develop w/ g6-bg7, I end up defending against a h-pawn attack where I try to avoid my king getting blown up on the dark squares.
In exchange, I win a pawn or two on the queenside. It feels like my opponent gets to turn their brain off and wait for me to eventually blunder the 'technically defendable position'. It's just miserable for blitz and rapid. But yeah, I just don't know how to get anything active from the black side.
I am not sure there is something of the sort. I tried 2... Nf6 a long time ago and could never get anything out of it, hated all the positions I got and lost most of them. I looked at the theoretical lines and didn't even like what I saw, Black is ok and has a good structure but White has such a space advantage he's never risking anything and can try all kinds of stuff without losing control. Looking now at the lines I still don't see anything that could be called fun to play for a sicilian player.
Jan 18, 2025
0
#6
If you want an attacking position this line is rare but it challenges the alapin in ways few lines do. It can be sharp though, but you won't be bored.
I actualy prefer e6 though, it's just transposing into a typical french exchange position.
Another line I used to play was this Nf6 sideline in the Barnem attack. It's a good line too, I stopped playing it because it was large and required alot of theory, however the positions are more interesting and it's quite good if you have the willpower -
I'm not a huge fan of Nf6 or d5 > Qxd5. These queen lines usually lead to a very cramped position for black. And Nf6 is just played way too much. Imagine being an alapin player - this is your line every game againt the sicilian... you will reach the alapin 35% of your games as white, and most of the time black respond with either d5 > Qxd5 or Nf6. It's a fairly forcing set of lines... Does that seem testing? I don't think so.
Jan 18, 2025
0
#7
Something to consider, white can delay the Alapin by one move, so how you play the open Sicilian can somewhat affect the exact Alapin position you will face.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6, white can delay defending the e-pawn for one move (4. Be2 and 4. h3 are common enough) because Qa4+ would fork the king and knight.
Separately, white can defend the e-pawn with d3 and then follow g3/Bg2 which is mostly equal but with black trying to work out how to develop against a white side with no weaknesses.
I agree with the suggestion of 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Nf6. I had surprisingly fun games with this line (eg : 4. d4 Nxd5 5. c4?! Nb4!? 6. a3 N4c6 7. d5 Nd4 8. Be3?! (but 8. Nf3 has the same answer) e5! - Black is already better), and it's quite rare the white players go for 4. Qa4+ or 4. Bb5+, usually it's 4. d4 on autopilot.
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 is a completely different opening from 2. c3 : White doesn't have e5, Black doesn't have d5 but can do better than 2. c3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Bd3 because the e pawn will be hanging at some point, so there is no direct transposition.
Does anyone know any reliable ways to get an attacking position as black in this line? It doesn't have to be totally sound, just fun and playable in a 10 min format or quicker. I feel like I'm just on defense every game, and it's not very enjoyable since I like to have the initiative.