Career
He was a linguist, railway engineer and merchant (grain commodities). Born in Saint St. Petersburg, Russian Empire on 19 November 1856, he was one of the strongest players in the Russian Empire in the late 19th century. He died in Heidelberg, Germany on 15 July 1923.
Today he is best known for his creation of opening systems in almost all major openings.
Most of these are of little significance today, but Alapin"s Variation of the Sicilian Defence is an important opening line that is often played by leading grandmasters. Alapin"s Variation of the Sicilian Defence: 1. e4 c5 2. c3
Alapin"s Opening in the Open Game: 1. e4 e5 2.
Ne2!? Alapin"s Gambit of the French Defence: 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Be3!? Alapin"s Defence of the Ruy Lopez: 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bb4
Alapin"s Variation of the Caro-Kann Defence: 1. e4 c6 2. c3
Alapin"s Variation of the Dutch Defence (also known as the "Manhattan Variation"): 1. d4 f5 2.
Qd3
Alapin"s Variation of the Queen"s Gambit: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6
Alapin Steinitz Variation of the Evans Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6.
0-0 d6 7. d4 Bg4
Sanders Alapin Variation of the Evans Gambit: 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. 0-0 d6 7. d4 Bd7.