Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6

The Delayed Alapin with e6 is 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3, a c3 Sicilian reached after Black has shown the e6 setup. White prepares d4 with pawn support, and Black chooses between the direct ...d5, ...Nf6 or a French-like ...Nc6 setup.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3
ECO
B40
Engine
+0.21 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
5,237 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Meet ...d5 with exd5 and d4; the black queen on d5 can then be chased by Na3 and Nb5.
  • Against ...Nf6, push e5 and put a pawn on d4. The knight on d5 can be hit later with c4.
  • If Black plays ...Nc6 and ...d5, an e5 push gives a French Advance structure with a3 and Be2.

Black

  • 3...d5 is the cleanest: it uses the e6 pawn to fight e4 before d4 is ready.
  • After exd5 recapture with the queen, then add ...Nf6 and ...Be7, aiming to castle fast.
  • In the French-style line, ...Qb6 and ...c4 hit b2 and gain queenside space.
  • Keep ...cxd4 in reserve. Trading too early helps White's knights find b5.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's ...e6 makes ...d5 very natural, so most games open the center right away. If Black recaptures with the queen, White develops with Na3, d4 and Nb5, gaining time and pressing c7. If White plays e5 instead, the structure looks like a French: White has space on the kingside and Black attacks the d4 chain with ...Qb6 and ...Nc6. Either way the side that develops faster decides who controls the open d-file or the dark squares.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.21: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.21 3...d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Na3 Be7 6.d4
  2. +0.26 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4
  3. +0.31 3...Nc6 4.d4 d5 5.e5 Qb6 6.a3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

5,237 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.5%.

under 120054.5%
1200–159954.1%
1600–199950.7%
2000 and up51.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

How to play against it

With Black, play 3...d5 and recapture on d5 with the queen. Develop quickly and do not allow Nb5 to land with gain of time. If you prefer closed play, ...Nc6 and ...d5 lead to a French Advance with an extra option of ...c4.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6?

The Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6 starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3. Its ECO code is B40.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6 good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.21 at depth 20, which is level. In 5,237 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.5%. Solid for both sides; club players with Black should know ...d5 well and be ready for French-type positions.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with e6?

White prepares d4 with c3, and Black answers with ...d5, making use of the e6 pawn. The game turns into either an open center with the black queen on d5 or a French Advance pawn chain.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with Nf6 and Nc6 close behind. 3...d5 hits e4 at once and makes use of the e6 pawn before d4 lands.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.