ECO B22 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4

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

10. Nb5+0.45

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation (B22), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. Nb5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.45).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.4510. Nb5 Nc2+ 11. Kd1 Nxa1 12. Nc7+ Kd7 13. Nxa8 Kc6 14. Bd3 Nf6
  2. −0.0410. Bb5+ Nc6 11. Be3 e6 12. Rc1 Bb4 13. Rg1 g6 14. Bxc6+ bxc6
  3. −0.9510. Be3 Nc2+ 11. Kd2 Nxa1 12. Bb5+ Kd8 13. Ke2 Nf6 14. Rxa1 e5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation?
After 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Qxd4 9. Qxd4 Nxd4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. Nb5 for White, continuing Nc2+ 11. Kd1 Nxa1 12. Nc7+ Kd7 13. Nxa8 Kc6 14. Bd3 Nf6. White is slightly better (+0.45). The next best moves are 10. Bb5+ (−0.04) and 10. Be3 (−0.95).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.45: white is slightly better. 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 Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Barmen Defense, Endgame Variation?
B22. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

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