The Alapin Variation is 1. 2.: the c3 pawn prepares d4, so that if Black trades on d4 you take back with a pawn instead of a piece. Across 118,167 Lichess games at 900 to 1700 (September 2026) you take 52.4% of the points, almost exactly what players above 2200 get online, at 52.3%.
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
7 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
At your level the most common answer to 2. is , in 40 of every 100 games, followed by and at 16 each. Players above 2200 online hardly touch (6 of every 100). They split between (33) and (32). You will meet those two less often, in 6 and 9 of every 100 games, but they are the ones that cause you the most trouble: you score 49 of every 100 against and 50 against . Against , strong players push 3. in 95 of every 100 games; at your level, only 59.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40.1% | 53.1% | 6.4% | no data | |
| 16.0% | 52.1% | 6.9% | 1.8% | |
| 15.6% | 51.9% | 12.3% | 3.2% | |
| 9.2% | 49.6% | 32.2% | 37.4% | |
| 6.1% | 49.1% | 32.7% | 52.5% | |
| 5.4% | 51.3% | no data | 3.2% | |
| no data | no data | 4.8% | 1.8% |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58.9% | 52.0% | 94.7% | 100.0% | |
| 13.0% | 43.6% | 0.6% | no data | |
| 11.2% | 47.0% | 2.0% | no data | |
| 5.3% | 46.0% | 0.7% | no data | |
| 2.9% | 45.0% | 1.3% | no data | |
| 2.7% | 47.4% | 0.8% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95.1% | 51.4% | 100.0% | 100.0% | |
| 2.7% | 60.6% | no data | no data | |
| 1.4% | 55.5% | no data | no data | |
| 0.7% | 82.3% | no data | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69.3% | 52.5% | 59.9% | 15.5% | |
| 12.6% | 48.4% | 6.5% | 31.7% | |
| 9.3% | 49.9% | 31.7% | 52.8% | |
| 8.8% | 49.9% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.9% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.4% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.2% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 76.4% | 51.5% | 90.5% | 100.0% | |
| 12.9% | 55.3% | 4.5% | no data | |
| 7.2% | 54.0% | 3.9% | no data | |
| 3.5% | 48.1% | 1.1% | no data |
The strong players' line is 3. 4. 5. 6.. It ends with a pawn pair on d4 and e5, backed by the f3 knight, and an open c-file because both c-pawns are gone. That is the whole point of 2.: when Black trades on d4, you recapture with the c-pawn and keep the center.
The sequence starts with a problem. After the knight hits e4 and nothing defends it: your pawn sits on c3, so the b1 knight cannot go there to cover it. That is why 3. comes before d4. The pawn attacks the f6 knight and gains space. Every strong player answers , and so do 95 of every 100 at your level. From d5 the knight eyes c3, b4, e3 and f4. If it drops back to g8, as 3 of every 100 do at your level, you score 61.
Now 4. supports the e5 pawn and offers the trade. Strong players take with in 91 of every 100 games; at your level, 76. This is where the pawn recapture comes in, though most strong players hold it back for a move.
With 5., the choice of 44 of every 100 strong players, the knight protects e5 and adds a third attacker on d4, next to the queen and the c3 pawn. So when hits e5, as 47 of every 100 strong players play, the pawn is already covered. Then 6., picked by 66 of every 100, completes the sequence: d4 is guarded by the queen and the knight, e5 by the d4 pawn and the knight. The c6 knight is aiming at both pawns, but each one has two defenders.
At your level it helps to know where this breaks down. After , 13 of every 100 players push 3. instead of 3. and leave e4 hanging. After , 69 of every 100 carry on with 4., just like strong players. Others go 4., which kicks the d5 knight but sends away the pawn that was meant to recapture on d4. With 4. you score 52.5 of every 100; with 4., 49.9. The common thread never changes: with the pawn on c3, e4 has no knight to cover it, and every move in this sequence works around that. Five of the six mistakes below leave e4 undefended.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 20,019 | 33.0% | |
| 6,593 | 94.8% | |
| 6,242 | 100.0% | |
| 6,229 | 58.9% | |
| 3,660 | 90.6% | |
| 5,163 | 43.7% | |
| 2,255 | 46.7% | |
| 2,407 | 65.7% |
An inaccuracy. After 3. , 4. lets hit your e4 pawn, which has no defender. After 5. 6. 7., the c5 pawn and the c6 knight lean on d4. Play 4. instead, attacking the c6 knight. 51 of every 100 players choose 4., and you score 53 against 57.
51 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 53.0%; scores 56.8%.
An inaccuracy. After , 3. leaves your e4 pawn undefended: takes it, and your knight cannot go to c3 because your pawn is there. You win the material back with 4. 5. 6., pinning the c6 knight. Play 3.. 15 of every 100 choose 3., and you score 44 against 52.
15 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 44.2%; scores 52.4%.
An inaccuracy that barely changes results at your level. After , 3. delays d4 and Black gets to stop it: 4. 5. , with the c5 and e5 pawns both covering d4. Your bishop then has to move on with 6. to let the d-pawn out. Play 3.. You score 50.1 of every 100 against 52.5.
10 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.1%; scores 52.5%.
A mistake, though at your level it rarely gets punished. After 3. , 4. skips the recapture and leaves e4 undefended. Then 5. , and after 6. 7. you are a pawn down. Take back with 4. at once. Only 2 of every 100 choose 4., and you score 52 against 54.
2 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.4 pawns of advantage. It scores 52.4%; scores 53.8%.
An inaccuracy, close to a mistake. After the knight hits e4, and 3. does nothing about it: grabs the pawn. With 4. 5. 6. you gain space, but you are still a pawn down. Play 3., kicking the knight. 13 of every 100 players at your level choose 3., and you score 44 against 52.
13 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1 pawn of advantage. It scores 43.6%; scores 52.0%.
A mistake. After 3. , 4. leaves e4 undefended, and takes the pawn while hitting your f3 knight. After 5. 6. 7. the queens are off, you are a pawn down and you can no longer castle. Play 4.. 13 of every 100 choose 4., and you score 46.5 against 51.
13 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 46.5%; scores 51.0%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 64,529 | ||
| Not castled | 18,060 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 14,681 |
| Not castled | 9,142 | |
| 4,165 | ||
| 3,513 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 156 | ||
| Not castled | 43 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 19 |
| Not castled | 12 | |
| 12 | ||
| Not castled | 9 |
1. 2. 3. · 7,772 amateur games · 55 over the board
After 3. , Black's queen regains the pawn in the center. You score 56 of every 100.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 3,132 amateur games · 22 over the board
lets you recapture on d4 with the c-pawn. You score 51 of every 100.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · B40
1,191 amateur games · White's score: 53.2%
1. 2. 3. · B22
283 amateur games · White's score: 52.3%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. · B22
135 amateur games · White's score: 50.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. · B22
It is a steady choice. You score between 52 and 53 of every 100 in every rating band from 900 to 1700, about what players above 2200 get online, while strong players over the board score 54.5. It also gets more popular as you climb: 1 in every 1000 games at 900-1100 and 6 in every 1000 at 1500-1700.
Rarely. The Dragon is built around a bishop on g7, but against 2. strong players online play in only 5 of every 100 games, and at your level it falls below 6 in 100. Most strong players answer or . And in the Alapin you recapture on d4 with the c-pawn, keeping pawns on d4 and e5.