Answers.Body: <p>If you measure by the Lichess masters database, this is already happening:</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CPHB5.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CPHB5.png" alt="Percentage of time Nf3 and d4 are played in the given position" /></a></p>
  <p>Nf3 has been more popular than d4 since 2019.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2024-03-13T18:18:44.667Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2024-03-13T18:25:45.973Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2024-03-13T18:25:45.973Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Simon M
Body: <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5
  </code></pre>
  <p>According to some databases I have looked at 4. Nf3 is clearly better than 4. d4. Actually d4 loses more than it wins. For example the lichess.org masters databases scores 4. d4 as 26/43/31 (%wins / %draws / %losses), in contrast to the score of 29/48/23 for 4. Nf3. If I understand it right, there could be some weaker move down the main line after 4. d4 that is responsible for this, but I couldn't find one. It looks like d4 really is not so good for white. Does it mean that 4. Nf3 will gradually become the main line?</p>
  
Tags: <sicilian-defense>
Title: Alapin Sicilian 4th move after 2... Nf6 3.e5 Nd5
ThreadText: # Alapin Sicilian 4th move after 2... Nf6 3.e5 Nd5
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-13)
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5
  
  ```
  
  According to some databases I have looked at 4. Nf3 is clearly better than 4. d4. Actually d4 loses more than it wins. For example the lichess.org masters databases scores 4. d4 as 26/43/31 (%wins / %draws / %losses), in contrast to the score of 29/48/23 for 4. Nf3. If I understand it right, there could be some weaker move down the main line after 4. d4 that is responsible for this, but I couldn't find one. It looks like d4 really is not so good for white. Does it mean that 4. Nf3 will gradually become the main line?
  
  **Tags:** sicilian-defense
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2024-03-13. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
  
  If you measure by the Lichess masters database, this is already happening:
  
  [![Percentage of time Nf3 and d4 are played in the given position](https://i.sstatic.net/CPHB5.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/CPHB5.png)
  
  Nf3 has been more popular than d4 since 2019.
  
  
  ---
  
  