Expert: Len Molden - 11/15/2009

Question
In the closed Sicilian(3.g3) why do they move the Knights to C1 and D1?
&
What is the best continuation for Black against the Alapin?

Answer
Hi Ganesh,

The Knight moving to d1 occurs quite often for three main reasons:

1) White usually develops his Queen-side Bishop to e3 followed by the Queen going to d2.  This then leaves the b2 pawn undefended so the Knight at d1 protects it.  

2) From d1, it can move to f2, if pawn to f4 has been played, and participate in a King-side attack.

3) Black has to seek active Queen-side play and usually does so by moving his "a" and "b" pawns.  The pawn often goes from b7 up to b4 to attack the Knight and loosen control of d5, so d1 is a good escape square.

As for a Knight moving to c1, this is far less common and is usually played to protect the vulnerable Queen-side pawns, or sometimes to re-deploy to d3 to control e5.

Alapin
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There's an excellent overview of this White Anti-Sicilian variation at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicilian_Defence,_Alapin_Variation

As for myself, I usually play 2...e6 as then White can't really avoid the French Defence Advanced variation after 3.d4 d5 4.e5 and this isn't to many White player's liking.  They're most likely booked-up on the main Alapin lines quite well, but may not be so much on the Advanced French.

Regards,

Len Molden