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Tree path 5 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Smith-Morra Gambit › Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit › Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted
  1. Chess Codex
  2. King's Pawn Game B00
  3. Sicilian Defense B20
  4. Smith-Morra Gambit B21
  5. Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit B21
  6. Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted B21 you are here
B21

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted

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Overview

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted 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.

Play reaches this position via 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3, after 6 plies of opening development.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.

13 distinct sub-variations branch from this opening; prominent examples include Chicago Defense, Classical Formation, Danish Variation, and others.

In total, the branch covers 17 sub-variations across all depths.

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
6
Parent
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit
Direct variations
13
Total in subtree
17

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

9,247,261 games · White 51.3% / Draw 4.0% / Black 44.7%

MovesGamesW / D / B
Nxc38,153,287
Bc4870,515
Nf3186,720
bxc311,239
Bd39,016
f46,903
Qb33,888
Qc2891

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:20:35

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Variations (13)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit:

Show all 17 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-smith-morra-gambit-accepted