Alapin's Opening
Encyclopedia
Alapin's Opening is an unusual chess opening
that starts with the moves:
It is named after the Russo
-Lithuania
n player and openings analyst Semyon Alapin
(1856–1923).
Although this opening is rarely used, Ljubojević
(as Black) played against it at Groningen in 1970.
Alapin's Opening is offbeat, but perfectly playable for White.
It is mainly used by players who want to avoid highly theoretical lines such as the Ruy Lopez
, or those who wish to surprise their opponents. White is intending to play f2-f4 soon.
Also, it's similar to the Smyslov Position (Smyslov-Botvinnik, 1958) if White tries to play something in the lines of g3, Nbc3, d3, Bg2.
However, Alapin's Opening also incurs several problems for White. Firstly, the development of White's light-squared bishop, and also of his queen, is blocked, and it will require another move of the knight or another pawn move, both of which go against opening principles, to develop these pieces. Secondly, the knight on e2, although flexible, has no control over Black's half of the centre, and will need to be moved again to become more useful.
It is relatively easy for Black to equalize in this opening, e.g., 2...Nf6, 2...Nc6, and 2...d5 all equalize, although Black should be careful to avoid being caught by surprise by an eventual f2-f4.
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
that starts with the moves:
- 1.e4 e5
- 2.Ne2
It is named after the Russo
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
-Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n player and openings analyst Semyon Alapin
Semyon Alapin
Semyon Zinovyevich Alapin was a Russian and Lithuanian chess master, openings analyst, and puzzle composer. He was a linguist, railway engineer and merchant .-Biography:...
(1856–1923).
Although this opening is rarely used, Ljubojević
Ljubomir Ljubojevic
Ljubomir Ljubojević is a Grandmaster of chess. He was born on November 2, 1950, in Titovo Užice, Yugoslavia . Ljubojević was awarded the International Master title in 1970 and the GM title in 1971. He was Yugoslav champion in 1977 and 1982. He won the 1974 Canadian Open Chess Championship...
(as Black) played against it at Groningen in 1970.
Alapin's Opening is offbeat, but perfectly playable for White.
It is mainly used by players who want to avoid highly theoretical lines such as the Ruy Lopez
Ruy Lopez
The Ruy Lopez, also called the Spanish Opening or Spanish Game, is a chess opening characterised by the moves:-History:The opening is named after the 16th century Spanish priest Ruy López de Segura, who made a systematic study of this and other openings in the 150-page book on chess Libro del...
, or those who wish to surprise their opponents. White is intending to play f2-f4 soon.
Also, it's similar to the Smyslov Position (Smyslov-Botvinnik, 1958) if White tries to play something in the lines of g3, Nbc3, d3, Bg2.
However, Alapin's Opening also incurs several problems for White. Firstly, the development of White's light-squared bishop, and also of his queen, is blocked, and it will require another move of the knight or another pawn move, both of which go against opening principles, to develop these pieces. Secondly, the knight on e2, although flexible, has no control over Black's half of the centre, and will need to be moved again to become more useful.
It is relatively easy for Black to equalize in this opening, e.g., 2...Nf6, 2...Nc6, and 2...d5 all equalize, although Black should be careful to avoid being caught by surprise by an eventual f2-f4.