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Sicilian Defense - Alapin Variation
Course
65 episodes
(1 hour 51 min)
(1 hour 51 min)
Creators
GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes
When you play the Sicilian Defense, you must be prepared to face the Alapin variation starting with 2.c3.
This is White’s 3rd most popular move in the Sicilian, behind 2.Nf3 and 2.Nc3, played by those who want to avoid mainline theory and still get good chances to cause problems for Black.
After 2.c3, a natural Sicilian move like 2…Nc6 or 2…d6 gives White a strong center and a better game after 3.d4. So Black has to be careful in the opening.
In this video course, we offer the move 2…Nf6!, which is played by many super GMs like Caruana, Grischuk and Giri. Black develops a piece and immediately provokes a fight in the center...
See moreAnd as you’ll discover from this course, Black doesn’t just equalize here but also gets a very comfortable position out of the opening.
You’ll also see how Black can create practical chances to outplay White even in the solid lines of the Alapin variation.
On top of that, the lines are easy to remember and they’ll also automatically prepare you against the dangerous Smith-Morra Gambit with 1.e4 c5 2.d4. You’ll see how to sidestep this gambit and transpose back to the known Alapin territory.
This means you won’t have to spend any time preparing the Smith-Morra Gambit separately (which is White’s 4th most popular response to the Sicilian after 2.Nf3, 2.Nc3, 2.c3 ?)!
So are you ready?
Let’s begin!
What you'll learn
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Ideas, downsides and the opening strategy of the Sicilian Alapin variation.
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A move-by-move repertoire to fight against the Alapin, Delayed Alapin variation and other minor lines.
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How Black creates practical chances to fight for a win even against White’s most solid lines.
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How to sidestep the dangerous Smith-Morra Gambit(1.e4 c5 2.d4) by transposing back to the known Alapin territory.
Course Content
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65
Episodes -
1
Attachments -
1 hour 51 min
5
Students give this course an average of 5 out of 5 stars.
Paulo Fanha
One more weapon for my arsenal...
Vismith Prabhu
Brilliant course displaying great variations and plenty of explanations to properly understand the Alapin for Black. I used to play this with a huge loss rate, but now I can guarantee that I will be getting much better results from now on! Thank you Mr Gabuzyan and the ChessMood team for the amazing course!
ChessMood
Super! Thank you, too!
Vismith Prabhu
What a brilliant course! Thank you so much for the instructive content with great lines and explanations!
ChessMood
Thank you, too!
Alexandre Atlas
AMAZING ! iS THE FIRST TIME I REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW TO PLAY AGAINST THE ALAPINE WITH BLACK 2....CF6 8 THANKS A LOT I REALLY APPRECIATE IT 8
ChessMood
YOU ARE WELCOME! :)
Llorenç Boldú Zabih
Very good. Pity there is no draft pgn ;)
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Thanks!
We'll add PGN the next week.
Giorgos Kechagias
Clear and consistent course, especially in the advanced sections!!
ChessMood
Thanks, Giorgos, I am glad you enjoyed it!
Ikezahu Emmanuel
Very clear and concise. Awesome!!
ChessMood
Very nice words, thanks!
Alex Ung
Thanks, very clear explanations!
ChessMood
Thanks Alex!
GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes
Hovhannes Gabuzyan became a U-16 Olympic Champion in 2010. Two years later, at 17, he achieved the Grandmaster title.
He was the World University Chess Champion in 2016, the Armenian Champion in 2017 and 2021, and has represented his country at the prestigious Chess Olympiad.
He believes time is a person’s most valuable resource. This philosophy reflects in his swift play on the chessboard and his training methods that focus on squeezing the most out of one’s time.
Hovhannes Gabuzyan became a U-16 Olympic Champion in 2010. Two years later, at 17, he achieved the Grandmaster title.
He was the World University Chess Champion in 2016, the Armenian Champion in 2017 and 2021, and has represented his country at the prestigious Chess Olympiad.
He believes time is a person’s most valuable resource. This philosophy reflects in his swift play on the chessboard and his training methods that focus on squeezing the most out of one’s time.
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Course
65
Episodes
1
Attachments
1 hour 51 min
65
1
1 hour 51 min
Creators
GM Gabuzyan Hovhannes
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