Caissa Codex
B21

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Larsen Defense

Chess diagram: Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Larsen Defense after 8…Bd6

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Statistics from Lichess

9,689 games: White 46.0% / Draw 3.8% / Black 50.2%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
4,4654,465
1,4771,477
1,1311,131
1,0231,023
564564
440440
211211
116116

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

−0.02 The position is about equal

Best play: 9. Bb3 Nge7 10. Be3 Bf4 11. Rac1 O-O 12. h4 h6 13. Rfd1 Bxe3

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, Larsen Defense (ECO B21, Semi-Open Games) is a gambit in the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian Variation, reached after 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Qc7 7. Qe2 a6 8. O-O Bd6 (8 moves).

In 9,689 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.0%, Black 50.2% and 3.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 9. Rd1, in 46% of those games.

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How to play against the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Larsen Defense

9. h3 scores best for White: 49.6%, with White winning 47.7% and Black 48.5% of 1,023 games. The most played, 9. Rd1, scores 48.6% in 4,465 games, and 9. Nd5 scores lowest: 47.7%. Stockfish's first choice is 9. Bb3.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 7. Qe2 a6 8. O-O Bd6, the position after Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Larsen Defense (B21)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sicilian-defense-smith-morra-gambit-accepted-larsen-defense

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