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Alapin's Opening

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Alapin's Opening is an unusual chess opening that starts with the moves

1.e4 e5
2.Ne2

It is named after the Lithuanian player and openings analyst Semyon Alapin (1856–1923). Although this opening is rarely used, Ljubojević played it at Groningen in 1970.

Alapin's Opening is offbeat, but perfectly playable for White. It may appeal to White players who wish to avoid extensively analyzed double king pawn openings such as the Ruy Lopez. With the advantage of the first move, White has greater latitude to play moves that are not objectively the strongest without incurring disadvantage. Although 2.Ne2 blocks the bishop on f1, White's f-pawn is not blocked and White intends to play f2-f4, a sort of King's Gambit but without a pawn sacrifice. White often later posts the knight from e2 to f4 with Nxf4 or Nf4, attacking the d5 square and freeing the bishop.

There are many satisfactory replies for Black. One typical continuation is 2...Nf6 3.f4 Nxe4 4.d3 Nc5 5.fxe5 d5 6.d4 Ne6 7.Nf4 c5. Black can also transpose into the Sicilian Defense with 2...c5. If Black plays 2...Bc5, a transposition into the Scotch Game is possible with 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6.

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