Sicilian as White: Alapin or Open?

If results are the same go for the one you enjoy. If one is clearly better than the other go for that. Note variety means black has to know most variations. White can chose a pet line.

As @GMegasDoux suggests, play what you enjoy. Some people will tell you that the Open Sicilian is "better", but the Alapin is sound. Other people's opinions and preferences don't make moves on the chessboard for you. If you like the positions you get from the Alapin, then it is better for you.

I dislike the Alapin as White but am unwilling to maintain my Open repertoire as a d4 main with an e4 secondary.

I play 2. Nf3 without 3. d4, or the “Semi-Open” (patent pending). 
2… Nc6 3. Bb5: the Rossolimo, a simple positional Anti-Sicilian so viable it caused a shift away from 2… Nc6 at top level for a long time. 
2… d6 3. c3: the Delayed Alapin, a very fun and interesting opening that avoids or completely changes Black’s options to counter the Alapin and either plays like a good variation of the Closed Sicilian, a good variation of the Alapin, or a trappy tactical slugfest. 
2… e6 3. c4: the Kramnik, a symmetrical positional battle that doesn’t really have any bite other than taking the game from Sicilian territory where Black would be familiar to something akin to Tarrasch territory, where I would be familiar with the positions as a d4 main.
However, I also know:

• the Westerinen (2… e6 3. b3) which works by flipping the script on the Dragon bishop.
• The KIA (2… e6 3. d3) which works by setting up against the weakened a8-h1 diagonal and the weak LSB.
• The Alapin (2… e6 3. c3) which often transposed directly into an Advance French line that I played shortly as Black and so know the ideas of as White but Black is unlikely to.
• The Open (2… e6 3. d4) because e6 is the least theoretical of the Open Sicilians and so I reason that I should be able to get away with it.

I beat a fide master with c3 without knowing theory

Open Sicilian is not much better than Alapin Sicilian. It is just a much broader topic with far more theory.

You need to know the Dragon, the Najdorf, the Taimanov, the Kan, the Richter Rauzer and more. Black could play any of those.

Alain.

Sorry alapin

Hi!

I'm a fan of antisicilians like Alapin, Closed Variation, KIA, but I know that the best is 2. Nf3, so that would be my recommendation to you.

Good luck!

as a sicilian player the only times ive lost to checkmate is in the open sicilian

that should tell you something about which one to pick

Start learning the open Sicilian while playing the Alapin

Open

alapin so op

Based on your rating, you shouldn't study any of those yet. When you are ready to start with the openings, and wanna build a serious repertoire, I'd say don't look what Carlsen and other great players do, but check the opening explorer, and choose the move that you like the most, or the one that you understand the best. If not the move, then the whole line. I think Alapin is quite logical for someone who is not yet learning to become a master, but just wants to play a decent opening line.

I like smith morra myself. A lot of tactical potential and pressure on black for punishing mistakes

Hi!

The Smith-Morra Gambit is very interesting, that is why I would normally decline it.

Good luck!

You could also play the closed. However, I say alapin is best. In the end, its all based on what you wanna play, amd have fun with.