Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code B21, part of the Sicilian Defense family. It goes 1. e4 c5 2. d4. White opens with 1. e4 (the king's pawn) and Black answers 1... c5. After 3 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. e4 – White plays the pawn to e4
• 1... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
• 2. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2... cxd4.

About the Sicilian Defense

Black answers 1.e4 with 1...c5, fighting for the d4 square from the side. The game becomes unbalanced and sharp, with chances for both sides.

• After d4 and ...cxd4, Black trades a side pawn for White's centre pawn and gets an extra centre pawn.
• Black uses the half-open c-file: a rook on c8 and pressure on c3 and c2.
• Kings often castle on opposite sides, so both players race to attack; every tempo counts.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Sicilian Defense (1. e4 c5)
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Coles Sicilian Gambit – adds 2... cxd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qd1
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Halasz Gambit – adds 2... cxd4 3. f4
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit – adds 2... cxd4 3. Nf3
• Continues with: Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit – adds 2... cxd4 3. c3
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit, Andreaschek Gambit (1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 e5 4. c3)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit (1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit (1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted (1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack, Toilet Variation (1. e4 c5 2. f4 d5 3. Nc3)
• Related line: Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Chicago Defense (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)

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