Tree path 5 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Smith-Morra Gambit › Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit › Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Alapin Formation
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Sicilian Defense B20
- Smith-Morra Gambit B21
- Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit B21
- Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Alapin Formation B21 you are here
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Alapin Formation
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Alapin Formation 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.
It is reached after 6 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Nf6.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit, part of the broader King's Pawn Game system.
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
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
1,077,441 games · White 45.4% / Draw 5.7% / Black 48.9%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 929,076 | |
| Bd3 | 40,584 | |
| cxd4 | 39,885 | |
| Nf3 | 27,851 | |
| Bc4 | 20,818 | |
| Qxd4 | 11,333 | |
| f3 | 2,898 | |
| Qc2 | 1,293 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:20:38
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Submissions are reviewed before publishing.