Delayed Alapin Variation

White first plays 2. Nf3 and only then 3. c3. This is a delayed form of the Alapin that again aims to build a center with d4. Against the 2...e6 move order Black strikes at once with 3...d5. After 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 the queen stands actively in the center. White cannot gain time against it with Nc3, because the c3-square is already occupied by a pawn. The half-open d- and e-files and the tension between c5 and d4 define the play. If Black later exchanges on d4 and White recaptures with the c-pawn, White is left with an isolated queen's pawn.

The most common sixth move is 6. Be2, followed by 6. Be3 and 6. Na3. Engines rate 6. Na3 highly, along with 6. Be2 and 6. Bd3. The position is roughly balanced, and online results are almost exactly even. The same name also covers 2...d6 3. c3, which leads to different play. There the Basman-Palatnik Gambit, with ...Nxe4 after 4. Be2 Nc6 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4, is a known sideline. An early ...Nxe4 in that line runs into a check from the queen on a4.