Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit
ECO B21 · 1. e4 c5 2. d4
The Smith-Morra Gambit, 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3, offers a pawn to get rapid development and open lines against the Sicilian. It is a club-level favorite that turns the game into an attack from the first moves.
Plans for White
After 3...dxc3 4.Nxc3 White develops with Nf3, Bc4, O-O and Qe2, puts rooks on c1 and d1, and uses the open c- and d-files. Pressure on d6 and f7 and a timely e5 push are the main ideas.
Plans for Black
Black can accept and develop carefully with ...Nc6, ...e6, ...a6 and ...Nge7 or ...d6 and ...Nf6, or decline with 3...Nf6 or 3...d5, reaching an Alapin-like structure.
Typical pawn structures
Open c- and d-files for White's rooks; Black's d6 pawn is often backward, while Black keeps an extra central pawn.
Who it suits
Attacking players who want to avoid main-line Sicilian theory and enjoy initiative more than material.
Common traps
The Siberian trap: 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Ng4 9.h3?? Nd4! and Black wins the queen or mates on h2. For Black, early ...Nf6 can run into e5 and Bxf7+ tricks.
Related variations
- Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Closed
- Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon
- Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Taimanov Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Dragon Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Czerniak Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Kronberger Variation
- Sicilian Defense: McDonnell Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Wing Gambit
- Sicilian Defense: French Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations
- Sicilian Defense: Nimzowitsch Variation
- Sicilian Defense: O'Kelly Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Grand Prix Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Morphy Gambit
- Sicilian Defense: Nyezhmetdinov-Rossolimo Attack
- Sicilian Defense: Hyperaccelerated Pterodactyl
- Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted
- Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Prins Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Classical Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Four Knights Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Pin Variation
- Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation