Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code B22, part of the Sicilian Defense family. It goes 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 18 moves it is White to move. After the last move Black is a pawn ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
2. c3 – White plays the pawn to c3
2... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
3. exd5 – White captures on d5 with the e-pawn
3... Qxd5 – Black takes on d5 with the queen
4. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
4... cxd4 – Black captures on d4 with the c-pawn
5. cxd4 – White captures on d4 with the c-pawn
5... Nc6 – Black plays the knight to c6
6. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
6... Bg4 – Black plays the bishop to g4
The line goes on for 6 more moves; the lesson shows them all.
About the Sicilian Defense
Black answers 1.e4 with 1...c5, fighting for the d4 square from the side. The game becomes unbalanced and sharp, with chances for both sides.
After d4 and ...cxd4, Black trades a side pawn for White's centre pawn and gets an extra centre pawn.
Black uses the half-open c-file: a rook on c8 and pressure on c3 and c2.
Kings often castle on opposite sides, so both players race to attack; every tempo counts.
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