Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Chicago Defense 9. Bb3 Ra7
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Statistics from Lichess
15,554 games: White 40.2% / Draw 4.9% / Black 54.9%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 9,7739,773 | ||
| 3,9133,913 | ||
| 930930 | ||
| 418418 | ||
| 193193 | ||
| 8888 | ||
| 6969 | ||
| 4343 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 11, 2026
Engine evaluation
+1.85 White is clearly better
Even so, Black scores 57.4% here in practice: wins plus half the draws in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500.
Best play: 10. Be3 Rb7 11. Rfd1 Bd7 12. e5 dxe5 13. Ne4 Nf6 14. Nc5 Bxc5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Chicago Defense (ECO B21, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Sozin Formation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O a6 8. Qe2 b5 9. Bb3 Ra7 (9 moves).
In 15,554 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 40.2%, Black 54.9% and 4.9% were drawn. White's most played move here is 10. Rd1, in 63% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 9…Ra7
10. Be3 scores best for White: 46.7%, with White winning 44.6% and Black 51.3% of 3,913 games. The most played, 10. Rd1, scores 41.3% in 9,773 games, and 10. Bf4 scores lowest: 40.4%. Stockfish's first choice is also 10. Be3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White'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: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Chicago Defense (B21)”. Lichess data as of 11 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-smith-morra-gambit-accepted-chicago-defense-2