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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Nf3/2...Nc6/3. Bb5/3...Bb4

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3...Bb4!? - Alapin Defence

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3...Bb4!?

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Ruy Lopez, Alapin
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black kingc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black knightd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 white bishopc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black bishopc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 white knightg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 black kingg1 black kingh1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4
ECO code: C60—99
Parent: Ruy Lopez

3...Bb4!? is a very odd response to the Ruy Lopez, named the Alapin Defence. This move copies White's move 3. Bb5 and has no clear idea. Everything that it attacks is defended, and white has two major options against this dubious defence:

  • 4. Bxc6 attempts to ruin Black's pawn structure by forcing them to double their pawns with either 4...bxc6 or 4...dxc6.
  • 4. c3 ignores the idea to double pawns and attacks the Bb4, and prepares to play d4 and rip the center open.

Therefore, the Alapin Defence is a very dubious defence against the Ruy Lopez, and should not be played without proper planning.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4!?