Caissa Codex
B21

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Finegold Defense

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Finegold Defense after 8…Nf6

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Statistics from Lichess

85,090 games: White 53.1% / Draw 4.6% / Black 42.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
75,04775K
2,2392,239
2,1952,195
1,7831,783
1,4571,457
947947
502502
441441

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.02 The position is about equal

Best play: 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 O-O 12. Bf4 Qe8 13. Qf3 Nb6

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, Finegold Defense (ECO B21, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Be7 8. Qe2 Nf6 (8 moves).

In 85,090 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.1%, Black 42.3% and 4.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. Rd1, in 88% of those games.

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Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4. Nxc3 e6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Be7 8. Qe2 Nf6, the position after Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Finegold Defense (B21)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-smith-morra-gambit-accepted-finegold-defense

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