Since the 1980s there has been a rise in the popularity of the Alapin Variation (2.c3) against the Sicilian, a move with which White strikes out in a quite different direction from the Open Variations with 2.Nf3 and then 3.d4. Here too, the advance of the d-pawn is the intention, but the preparation with c2-c3 is intended to make it possible to meet ...cxd4 with cxd4. So – at the cost of slowing down the development of his pieces – White would like to retain two pawns in the centre. Not a bad achievement when you remember that in the much played lines of the Open Sicilian he has to make do with only his e-pawn against the black d- and e-pawns. Black has two main variations with which to meet White’s plan.
First there is the active advance 2...d5. Because after 3.exd5 Qxd5 we can see a disadvantage of the move c3, the black queen cannot be driven from the centre of the board by Nc3. One possible continuation would be 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 (5...Bg4 is an important alternative). The subtle 6.a3 prophylactically takes control of the b4-square, so that after 6...Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.cxd4 a check is not possible on b4. 8...Be7 9.Nc3 Qd6 reaches a typical position with an isolated white d-pawn.
The second main variation begins with 2...Nf6. This also exploits the fact that the c3-pawn deprives White’s queen’s knight of its natural square and so Nc3 is impossible. For that reason the pawn rapidly turns the tables and attacks the knight 3.e5. After3...Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.cxd4.
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