Why the Alapin Sicilian is an Ideal Weapon | Climbing the Rating Ladder vs. 1810

In this continuation of the "Climbing the Rating Ladder" series I take on players of various ratings levels while pointing out typical mistakes and spots for improvement along the way (possibly my own!? :)). Here I commentate a 10+0 game against a player rated 1810 on Chess.com. The Alapin Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.c3) is my go-to recommendation for players at the amateur level, as it's a fundamentally sound line intending to build the e4+d4 pawn duo, which Black will often allow. In this game, my opponent chooses one of the strongest replies, 2...d5, which you may consider to be an "improved" Scandinavian. I decide to develop my queenside knight to a3, which soon leads to a tactical opportunity.
Review this game on Chess.com: www.chess.com/...
Support the channel: streamlabs.com... or via PayPal: t.co/VBFOLJHt2m
Follow me on Twitch: / johnbartholomew
Follow me on Twitter: / fins0905
Add me as a friend on Chess.com: www.chess.com/...
My 100 Endgames You Must Know Course on Chessable: www.chessable....
My London System (1.d4 and 2.Bf4) Course on Chessable: www.chessable....
The Checkmate Patterns Manual (with CraftyRaf): www.chessable....
My Scandinavian Course (1.e4 d5) on Chessable: www.chessable....
I offer private online chess lessons. Navigate to my "About" section, and then click on "For business inquiries" to reveal my email address.
Recommended chess books and equipment:
1950 Dubrovnik reproduction set (Bobby Fischer's favorite!) on Chess Bazaar: www.chessbazaa.... You can use coupon code JOHN30 for 30% off!
Wood board: amzn.to/2H9iATl
Tune Your Chess Tactics Antenna: amzn.to/2xJ2auH
Amateur to IM: amzn.to/2Dph3IG
Life and Games of Mikhail Tal: amzn.to/2zq741X

[@andreluissoriano]

“Hope is not a strategy.” is something I really need to accept when playing and not rely on opponent not seeing my plan.

[@perchik1]

Climbing the Rating Ladder against 1800s might be my favorite type of JB video: opponents are strong enough to get into the strategy of the game, but John outclasses them and explains along the way. Thanks for keeping up the great content John!

[@gcollins1992]

Agreed, but this video is also proof that no one is immune from blunders! :) Chess is BRUTAL. One second the game is reasonably close and the next, it's completely over.

[@FloppsEB]

well put, absolutely agree, it's a rare combo of this and few ppl doing this kind of analysis

[@relaxbro1125]

Yep!

[@worsethanjoerogan8061]

Watching an IM play chess is like watching your teacher do calculus. Makes perfect sense when they do it but then at the test you're like "F@#$!"

[@psjmejia]

Really thankful for this longer games, helps me understand what's going on with every move. I actually end reviewing these vids several times so they get stuck in my head 😂

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

Man that's awesome to hear! Let me know if you ever have any questions. Thanks for watching.

[@matthewrodgers6194]

John I really appreciate how you articulate your thought process. You seem like such a levelheaded common sense guy. I like your style bro …keep up the good work!

[@cwm180]

John, loving the renewed commitment to KZbin longish form videos! Please keep it up!

[@Mcveezy]

Beautiful timing thank you for all this amazing content I greatly appreciate it

[@dclar02]

By far the best chess content on youtube. I love listening to your thought process

[@josephcallahan3139]

it's always a pleasure to experience the game through your eyes, especially the joy you take in its intricacies

[@DudeTastic13]

Great video John. The D takes C5 move I think was the critical move in the game. For players like me (1400 ish), the middle game is the hardest. But I think watching you consider those candidate moves (castle / bishop E3) and talking yourself out of / into one is something lower rated players can learn to improve our game. (Btw I would have castled [the move before] because the black queen looked imposing, without considering starting an initiative like you did there with the knight). And at the end that bishop B5 check idea is what won you the game (when black blundered his knight on C6).

[@sammywohl5194]

Hey John! I’m really glad you played an Alapin. My buddy and I swear by it and are trying to create a movement behind it like team scandi! Down goes the Sicilian!

[@Natenanimous]

Watching your new videos every couple days with my lunch is a joy. Thank you again for the instructive and very watchable content!

[@nevanthywolf]

Never got to vote, but I would have asked for the alipin. Perfect! Thanks for the content!

[@bryannacaldwellsoccer]

Thank you for your CTRL games, I think they’re the best instructional content out there, hearing you think through the games out loud. Inspires me to construct a similar self/talk when I play. Still blunder :) But thanks!

[@TastyLifeRS]

always excited to see CTRL in the sub box!

[@mikek3459]

really nice game and thanks for sharing this with us John. I am exploring at the moment the Alapin. couple of days ago I played over the board in classical time format ( chessclub vs chessclub ) the same opening, but I made an error with the bishop C4 move. There was a fork tactic in the air, knight takes E4 on move 7 and was still there on move 8. If I capture the knight then I lose a piece with d6-d5 but lucky for me, my opponent didn't saw it he said after the game. Im rating 1543 and my opponent was rating 1566. Just to show the game for amateur level purpose here are the moves what have been played in my game. ( I didnt play so good but managed it to win; with my last move my opponent resigned because the knight on H5 was lost: 1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Bc4 Nc6 5. O-O d6 6. h3 Nf6 7. Re1 O-O 8. d4 b6 9. Nbd2 Nd7 10. Nf1 Bb7 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Bb3 Na5 13. Bc2 Nc4 14. Bc1 Nf6 15. Ng3 Rad8 16. b3 Na5 17. Bb2 Bc8 18. Rc1 Bh6 19. Rb1 b5 20. Qe2 a6 21. Bc1 Bg7 22. Be3 Nc6 23. Rbd1 cxd4 24. cxd4 d5 25. e5 Ne8 26. Qd2 f6 27. Bh6 e6 28. Bxg7 Qxg7 29. h4 f5 30. h5 f4 31. Nf1 g5 32. Qd3 Nb4 33. Qd2 Nxc2 34. Qxc2 Bb7 35. Rc1 Rd7 36. Qc5 Qh6 37. Qb6 Rff7 38. Rc3 Ng7 39. Rec1 Nxh5 40. Rc7 Qg7 41. Rxd7 Rxd7 42. Qxe6+ Kf8 43. Qg4 1-0 I love your content and way of explaining even after the game with your analyzes. Keep up your great vids, chess and work. Cheers from the Netherlands!

[@cowboy4187]

Great video! love this series

[@gcollins1992]

@John, would you ever be willing to do a new Chess Fundamentals explaining how to use space (or maybe play around spatial disadvantages?) I know you have a CTRL about space management but I'd love to hear a full explanation on all of your ideas about space. Also potentially helpful would be a video explaining how to do analysis of one's games. I find that when I sit down to review mine, I don't get or retain a whole lot out of it and I wonder if I'm doing it wrong. As always thanks for your vids!

[@LuukHGJ]

I "chose" the alapin as my response to the sicillian because it seems much less dense/explored at my level. Would love to see that alapin video you briefly mentioned!

[@kazimierrubel3559]

thank you for explaining this opening

[@feliperamirez-plata688]

I may be in the minority here but I definitely enjoy more the videos where John plays titled Tuesday, or plays people above his ELO. Seeing him play people always lower rated than him is like reading the same book over and over again, the opponent just has no chance. Is there anyway John that you could upload more videos of you playing stronger players? Or better yet, games where you potentially play a great game but still lose. I feel like they would be much more instructive and reflective. Thank you for your amazing content throughout the year, it’s helped me more than you can imagine

[@marlowe5511]

"Hope is not a strategy" such a good quote to keep in mind

[@hansgruber9093]

Bit of a shocking blunder from an 1800 there.

[@westofwahpeton4692]

“Hope is not a strategy” needs to be on some Merch lol

[@liontx]

Now I (1350) want to go take down some 1800s! John makes it look so easy.

[@taylormckinnon8922]

Hey John. Great Content as always.

[@nomvanhoutte1998]

Thanks for the new video.

[@brookelovett2847]

Thanks for the game, I love seeing the Alapin played on a master level

[@bucky825]

Love these videos. Helps me learn how to think while I’m playing.

[@m42orion12]

Another instructive upload

[@jobius19]

I’d be interested in seeing a video with the Delayed Alapin where white plays Nf3 before c3. I used to play c3 first but saw Aman suggesting Nf3 first in the chessbrah Building habits series so I’ve been trying that. Often the lines transpose but each version has its own unique traps as well. Would love to hear your thought process on how to pick one or the other!

[@XFlyingDutchmanX]

Love your content, John.

[@Elly-jm6pg]

Climbing the rating ladder is an amazing series! These are so helpful! Any news on a road to GM series yet? 😉

[@walterbrownstone8017]

I started with the Alapin and the delayed Alapin. Good opening that I should probably revisit.

[@goldenlion3184]

Same thing happened to me the other day, was playing a good opponent, enjoying the ideas and they blundered a bishop... I was disappointed we didn't play it out, should just be happy with the 'W'!!

[@rickdynes]

ALL the Magnus/ JB stuff is all-time KZbin TOP 10

[@danjeory3659]

Nice video. I may start playing the Alapin, as I often run into tricky problems against it. By the way, if you ever accidently click into the Masters' games, the page opens in a new tab, which you can just safely close - at least that how it behaves on my computer...

[@johnstevenson9956]

I don't think I've ever tried the Alapin. I'll have to look at it some more.

[@JFresh1977]

Hey John - great video and loving the new vids you've been putting out. I may be late to the party on this but would you be able to play a Smith-Morra sometime? I really like the S-M because I feel like it's very easy to learn if you're an E4 Italian player since in most situations you develop just as you would in the Italian (Knight usually goes out to F3 while the Bishop goes out to C4).

[@chessguru900]

Hey john is your camera out of focus, image is a bit fuzzy. Good opening and analysis.

[@rahzikashiharris9539]

I HAVE NOT WATCHED YOU IN A LONG TIME

[@czvxi]

Your poor opponent. We've all given up games in moments of blindness like that, but I'd be especially mad at myself if I did it after getting the chance to play an IM.

[@reformedbishop328]

22:55 Jon, would love to know more about playing with the IQP. Why do some people look forward to playing with it?

[@roach6992]

Cuz you have more space and can use the squares that the pawn controls. Go to youtube and search "Ben Finegold IQP"

[@connorlong3553]

I'm not very advanced so my preferences don't mean a lot tbh, but I personally find playing in the structures I usually get in the Alapin quite comfortable to play

[@Youtubed912]

LET'S GO ALAPIN

[@jameslambert1704]

At 6.19 why didn't you capture the bishop with the knight giving a check and then if Queen capture knight you recapture with pawn creating a passed pawmn

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

After Black captures on d1, I'm in check :)

[@rahzikashiharris9539]

I MISS YOUR CHANNEL VERY MUCH JOHN 💯😎🔥💙

[@okamisansempai557]

Hello, why don't you continue with what was your original plan Nb5+Nc7 with check, however i see that Bd6 could take Nc7 so it's better if you don't play this move..sorry my bad

[@square444]

Thank ewe

[@ManhattanProject9]

YES SIR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dogthedogdog]

Hope is not a strategy... Definitely for me. About to get a workout in... Not for me

[@koyaaanisquatsi]

4:58 Qa4 anyone?

[@JohnBartholomewChess]

It's an idea, though it's not immediately clear to me what we're doing after ...0-0 or ...Nbd7.

[@xgtete]

Don't suggest the Alapin, John. People don't play into the open sicilian enough as it is. The last thing we need is you endorsing it. 😅

[@bbbrown3408]

to last longer dont play theory or enter strong players lair with no hope

[@FloppsEB]

the Alapin Sicilian - also known as "not wanting a game of chess"

[@wellutopia2237]

🙂👍🏼

[@mikaelplaysguitar]

I don't really follow the logic of the Alapin, if someone is a 1. e4 player, why don't you want to have fun? Play the London if you hate chess.

[@hansgruber9093]

We play the Alapin precisely because we know people like you hate it

[@mikaelplaysguitar]

@@hansgruber9093 Haha, I knew it!

[@milankotevski1663]

There are no boring openings in chess. That silly notion resides only in amateur's minds.

[@mikaelplaysguitar]

@@milankotevski1663 Well, I am an amateur (in the true sense of the word). But I also believe that most people would agree that there are openings that are less exciting than others, e.g. Berlin, exchange Slav. And think that the Open Sicilian is exciting.