ECO B50 · Sicilian Defense

Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nxe4 7. d5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3

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

9… Nd8+0.54

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit (B50), reached after 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nxe4 7. d5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… Nd8 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.54).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.549… Nd8 10. Rb1 e5 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Bxd7+ Kxd7 13. O-O Be7 14. c4
  2. +0.569… Ne5 10. Nxe5 Qxc3+ 11. Bd2 Qxe5 12. O-O Qxd5 13. Rc1 Bd7 14. Rc7
  3. +0.709… Nb8 10. O-O Nd7 11. Rb1 a6 12. Re1 Nf6 13. c4 g6 14. Bd2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit?
After 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nf6 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nxe4 7. d5 Qa5+ 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… Nd8 for Black, continuing 10. Rb1 e5 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. Bxd7+ Kxd7 13. O-O Be7 14. c4. White is slightly better (+0.54). The next best moves are 9… Ne5 (+0.56) and 9… Nb8 (+0.70).
Is the Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.54: 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: Delayed Alapin Variation, Basman-Palatnik Double Gambit?
B50. 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+).