Tree path 4 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Smith-Morra Gambit › Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Sicilian Defense B20
- Smith-Morra Gambit B21
- Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit B21 you are here
Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit is a sacrificial opening line filed under ECO B21 in the Semi-Open Games group. The defining idea is the early concession of material to seize the initiative and unbalance the position.
The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.
The line arises from 9 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd1 Nf6 5. Bc4.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- B21
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 9
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
9,218 games · White 40.9% / Draw 3.5% / Black 55.5%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nxe4 | 4,320 | |
| e6 | 2,839 | |
| d6 | 717 | |
| g6 | 595 | |
| e5 | 411 | |
| Ne5 | 110 | |
| a6 | 98 | |
| Qa5+ | 39 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:00:01
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Submissions are reviewed before publishing.