ECO C20 · King's Pawn Game

King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Ne2

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

2… Bc5−0.07

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening (C20), reached after 1. e4 e5 2. Ne2, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… Bc5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.07).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.072… Bc5 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nb3 Nxe4 6. Bd3 Qh4 7. Qe2
  2. 0.002… Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. f3 Nd6 5. dxe5 Nf5 6. Nbc3 Nc6 7. Bf4
  3. +0.132… d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nbc3 Qa5 5. d4 Bf5 6. Ng3 Bg6 7. Bb5+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening?
After 1. e4 e5 2. Ne2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… Bc5 for Black, continuing 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nb3 Nxe4 6. Bd3 Qh4 7. Qe2. The position is roughly equal (−0.07). The next best moves are 2… Nf6 (0.00) and 2… d5 (+0.13).
Is the King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.07: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the King's Pawn Game: Alapin Opening?
C20. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; C is the volume for open games and the French Defense.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).