Tree path 6 levels King's Pawn Game › Sicilian Defense › Sicilian Defense › French Variation › Open › Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred
- Chess Codex
- King's Pawn Game B00
- Sicilian Defense B20
- Sicilian Defense B27
- French Variation B40
- Open B40
- Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred B40 you are here
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred
Overview
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred is a gambit, classified under ECO code B40 within the Semi-Open Games family. As with all gambits, one side sacrifices material early — usually a pawn — in exchange for development, open lines, or initiative.
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.
The line arises from 7 plies — specifically the moves 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. c3.
It is a variation of Sicilian Defense: French Variation, Open, which itself descends from the root opening King's Pawn Game.
Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.
- ECO code
- B40
- Group
- Semi-Open Games (B)
- Plies
- 7
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
1,096,719 games · White 50.1% / Draw 4.3% / Black 45.6%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| dxc3 | 545,596 | |
| Nc6 | 124,423 | |
| Nf6 | 114,546 | |
| a6 | 110,164 | |
| d3 | 93,459 | |
| d5 | 73,908 | |
| d6 | 16,198 | |
| Ne7 | 2,872 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 01:35:48
Write a description
Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links).
Submissions are reviewed before publishing.