How to counter Sicilian Alapin variation as Black with move Bf5!? | 13-Minute Chess Openings

[@roqsteady5290]

Thanks for this, looks like a straight forward line to play against the Alapin and one that results in postions with some chances for both sides. Have checked out all the lines and find your analysis to be spot on, which isn't always the case with youtube videos.

[@RoyalChess]

Thank You

[@BusyLizzy575]

Great video, so cool to see you explain things so well. Thanks

[@mattlambert3118]

Thanks for this. I stopped playing the Sicilian because of c3 a while back, but haven't found anything I really liked to replace it with and I think this will help. Just as a little (hopefully constructive) criticism, it might be good if you slowed down just a little because it's a little hard for me to follow everything at some points. I normally wouldn't say anything because it's a video that can be paused and replayed, but sometimes things happen so fast that it's hard to pinpoint the time I got lost. Even just an extra half a second between moves would be really helpful. In any case, I appreciate the video.

[@RoyalChess]

Matt, Thank You! Thank you for advices and fornice comment!

[@Factsnotfox]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Too fast.

[@JoseDownUnder]

Thanks for this video. Haven’t played this Bf5 variation even once when I faced Alapin, will try it out.

[@RoyalChess]

Thank you

[@JoseDownUnder]

using this Bf5 line, got into a good position in a club game tonight, but failed to take advantage after that and played a blunder :(, any way learned some thing new. Thanks again. @@RoyalChess

[@JoseDownUnder]

Played Kb8 instead of d3 (thought about this move during the game, but then didnt play that. and opponent duly punished it. 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Na3 cxd4 7. Nb5 O-O-O 8. Qa4 Qe4+ (8... Qe6+ 9. Kd2 dxc3+ 10. Kxc3) 9. Be2 Kb8

[@fandastruhal5231]

Perfect video., good comment and instructive.!!!Thx.

[@RoyalChess]

Thank You

[@horaciomlhh]

Interesting variation

[@vishnua4917]

loved the alapin counter 👍👍❤️

[@RoyalChess]

Thank you

[@mikestubbs1708]

wow...very good coverage here...and most interesting! thank you, Sir...well done!

[@RoyalChess]

Thank You

[@TweetyFam]

5:50 Why won't white play na7 and fork the queen and the rook?

[@brewtalityk]

Qxc4 and black is completely winning and threatening checkmate if the bishop doesn't block the D pawn

[@babuneelam]

It looks like white's moves are chosen as sub-optimal moves to show superior outcomes for Black. For example, at 4:47, the check on King can be addressed with Be3.. But, the video shows outcome for the scenario of Kf1 !!

[@RoyalChess]

Thank you for your comment, I will check it, anyway you comment helped me or visitors to count with another variation. Thank you a lot!

[@mattlambert3118]

I know you wrote this a long time ago, but I'm not sure why you think addressing the check with Be3 is a more optimal move than Kf1. Kf1 is a bad move to have to make because it takes away white's ability to short castle and boxes in the rook, but it seems like Be3 just hangs the bishop (8. Be3, d4xe3 9. f2xe3, Qxe3+). After that, either 10. Kf1, 10. Be2, or 10. Qe2. All of these moves would make 8.Be3 a pointless loss of a bishop because they could have been done on move 8 without losing the bishop. White offering a queen trade after losing the bishop would be very bad because white's already down a piece. Undeveloping the other bishop to move it to e2 would be bad because it could have went to e2 with its first move so it wastes one turn and it's probably going to have to move again before it can do anything besides perform guard duty so it probably wastes two turns. It would be better to just move the king to f1 without losing a bishop if you're going to end up moving it to f1 anyway. I guess white doesn't have to go 9. f2xe3... but they're just going to end up moving the king to f1 or f2 anyway. The d file is open in front of the white queen, but she can't go anywhere on it because literally every square is guarded. White could go 9. Bd5 and attack the queen, but it's just going to go 9. Bd5, e3xf2+, then either 10. Kf1, Qg4 or 10. Kxf2, Qg4. White's still just losing a bishop and a pawn for a pawn or nothing any way you go. Everything is but the black queen is guarded and she's got plenty of room to move around so the best white can do is trade down material when they're already down material.

[@nikolaskenderovic4577]

@@mattlambert3118 if you take the bishop on e3 an that moment white plays Bxf7+!! and after king takes bishop which is the only move, there comes Ng5+ forking king and queen at the same time and white is winning

[@adamyasinghal5293]

@@nikolaskenderovic4577 I think you did not see the pawn on e6.

[@richarddagr8de2de]

@@adamyasinghal5293 the pawn was not on e6 after Qe4+ so his point is valid. Be3 is the engine reccomendation after which you will play e6 to keep the advantage and to avoid Bxf7. White has to take with cxd4 and you can play Bb4 to force the king once again to f1

[@emmanuelportillo2740]

I've been suffering for having no idea about how to play against the alapin

[@RoyalChess]

thank you

[@reddevilkev]

After Na3 Bc4 Qe4+ variation white has Be3! you can't take or you lose the queen it is still good for black but not so big problem as Kf1

[@jyeshta8357]

best regards from turkey, as scilian player, i always face difficulty against alapin bf5 is good answer, thanks

[@RoyalChess]

Thank you And greetings to Turkey.

[@michaelhart6375]

Nice video, i came for answer and i take questions ..now i have so many new questions . For example, if white plays 6.c4

[@RoyalChess]

Queen E4 , C4 Is weak move.

[@michaelhart6375]

@@RoyalChess Thank you Very much

[@brewtalityk]

lovely accent thank you for the video

[@RoyalChess]

thank you

[@gaster-wc9tt]

Thanks mate I get shredded by the alapin

[@RoyalChess]

Thank You

[@berghers]

This looks a bit stressful cuz black is so open like this

[@egg4956]

The way he says piece💀💩

[@joeyxxx8848]

Good line; good video. Does talk fast, and that heavy Iranian accent doesn't help the ear either.