Alapin: Barmen: Opening Moves 4…Nc6…6…cxd4
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense
1. e4 c5 2. c3
The early c3 signifies the Alapin Variation of the Sicilian Defense.
The main answers are Nf6, attacking the pawn on e4, and d5, immediately challenging the center.
Other options that are common, yet slower, are e6, d6, and g6. All of which can transpose into other closed Sicilian openings.
2… d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4
The most common scenario of this opening you’ll experience.
Black has centralized the queen on d5, which would normally be attacked by nc3. With the pawn on c3, black has time to move around this by developing the queenside.
The most natural plan is to develop nc6, and bg4.
Black has to be aware of an eventual c4 since the pawn is supported by the bishop.
For this reason, they key square of this battle is d4 since black can capture the pawn if white plays c4 too soon.
It’s also important to note that if white plays c4, the queen can also slide back to d8 or h5 in some cases, and white’s d4 pawn is not supported by a pawn anymore, leading to potential weaknesses.
4… Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2
Black has completed queenside development, and in some cases castles this way. White has a 40% win rate in the master’s database on lichess when castling on move 6. However, the most common moves here are cxd4 and e6.
6… cxd4 7. cxd4
In this scenario, black has ceded the center and is letting white play nc3, attacking the queen.
However, the game has transposed into an isolated queen pawn opening. The best structure against this is to play e6, helping prevent the pawn from exchanging and going into an equal endgame.
That being said, if white is fighting for an equal endgame, black has already equalized the game by move 7. There is still a lot of game to play though and anything is possible. This is a safe way to counter the alapin and avoid traps and sharp play.
7… e6 8. Nc3
The queen can go to a5, or the bishop can come to b4. In many cases, both moves will be played.
Some masters play Qd6, Qd7, or even Qd8 as mentioned earlier.
8… Bb4
The bishop move is more helpful than Qa5 because it helps the king get out of the center.
With the c file open now, the king castling to the queenside is much more dangerous because of Bf4 and Rc1, freezing the king.
9. O-O Qa5
Qa5 and and Bb4 can both be played, making the order not seem to matter. However, this is only true if white castles. Another move might be played by white and the queen has moved multiple times while the king is stuck in the center.
most common is h3 or a3, seeming to give up a pawn.
10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nge7 12. Be3
Both sides have achieved development and the game is a normal isolated queen pawn game.
Interestingly enough, no master games occur where the bishop captures the pawn. Most likely there is too much counterplay if this occurs.
Let’s finish this game by looking at what happens if we give up the bishop pair for a pawn.
Before playing the moves, it seems like Bxc3, bxc3, Qcx3 and Rb1 is most logical. Rc1 keeps the f1 rook in a weird spot when this pawn formation wants the rooks on b1 and c1
12… Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qxc3 14. Rb1 b6
If you try to hold onto the pawn, you’re weakening your c6 bishop and white wins material
15. Rc1 *
1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 e6
In this blitz game I played, I opted for e6.
This is the second most played move, but can lead to some sharp lines that I have encountered before, particularly in the World Open 2019. I won the game, but I got lucky.
White’s options are to play h3, castle, and c4. e6 seems to stop c4 to me because it permanently weakens d4 as the queen just slides back. White is able to get nc3 in in some ways though, but has to play Be3 first I believe. My oppoonent played h3
7. h3 Bh5
The most played move by masters is c4 right away. the h3 pawn push can be seen as a breathing move for later since white wants to castle on the kingside. It also puts a buffer move of g4, saving the knight from capture. After c4 this seems to make sense.
8. O-O
With white missing the c4 move to gain an advantage, black can stay in the game with nf6.
Sideline
(8. c4 Qd7 9. g4 Bg6 10. d5
This sideline is what would most likely occur. White is up more than one centipawn and therefore it’s something to watch out for with 6..e6.
10… exd5 11. cxd5 Nb4 12. Ne5 Qxd5 13. Bb5+ Ke7 14. O-O
This line can’t be good for black
8… Nf6 9. Na3
Once the knight plays na3, it makes sense to capture the d pawn as the ideal square of c3 is no longer an easy option without wasting tempo.
9… cxd4 10. Nb5
Here the best move is Rc8. Developing and defending the fork.
10… Qd8 11. Nbxd4 Bc5
White is winning here and black has disadvantages. It’s hard to see right away though.
12. Qa4
Sideline
(12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bf4
I assume that this is good because of the long term isolated pawn, but it’s relatively even, yet tougher to play for black.
12… Bxd4 13. cxd4
Capturing with the knight was preferable. If Bxe2 then the knight can recapture on e2.
13… O-O 14. g4
This is also out of sync with the rest of the moves and creates weaknesses.
14… Bg6 15. Be3 Nd5 16. Ne5
This blunder loses the game as trading minor pieces and getting a ton of play, winning the central pawns etc is inevitable.
16… Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Qd2
Hitting both the bishop and pawn with check
19. Qd1 19… Qxe3+
0-1 White resigns. But let’s go a few more moves to see why.
20. Rf2
White resigned but something like these moves could be played. Black is up two pawns and white and exposed king and no compensation
20… Qg3+ 21. Rg2 Qxe5
