Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit
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Statistics from Lichess
9,218 games: White 40.9% / Draw 3.5% / Black 55.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 4,3204,320 | ||
| 2,8392,839 | ||
| 717717 | ||
| 595595 | ||
| 411411 | ||
| 110110 | ||
| 9898 | ||
| 3939 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 30, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.96 Black is better
Best play: 5... Nxe4 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Qd5+ e6 8. Qxe4 d5 9. Qd3 e5 10. Ne2
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit (ECO B21, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd1 Nf6 5. Bc4 (5 moves).
In 9,218 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 40.9%, Black 55.5% and 3.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…Nxe4, in 47% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit
5…e6 scores best for Black: 60.2%, with Black winning 58.3% and White 37.9% of 2,839 games. The most played, 5…Nxe4, scores 56.9% in 4,320 games, and 5…d6 scores lowest: 56.0%. Stockfish's first choice is 5…Nxe4.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit (B21)”. Lichess data as of 30 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-coles-sicilian-gambit