Chess opening · ECO B21
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit
2.d4 starts the Smith-Morra, challenging c5 at once. After 2...cxd4, White usually offers the c-pawn with 3.c3. If Black takes again, White recaptures with the knight and has a lead in development, a knight on c3, an open c-file and a half-open d-file for the rooks. Black has an extra pawn and needs time to finish development.
- Rank by weighted share
- #52 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 c5 2. d4
- 2. d4White hits c5 with the d-pawn. The trade on d4 has the largest share in every band. White then chooses between the gambit with c3, recapturing with the queen, or Nf3, which heads toward Open Sicilian positions.
The accepted gambit
After 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3, White develops quickly with Nf3, Bc4, castling and Qe2. The rooks go to d1 and c1, where they press down the open c-file and face the d6 pawn along the half-open d-file.
Black often sets up with ...Nc6, ...d6, ...e6 and ...Nf6. The pawn on d6 can become a target for a knight on b5 or a pawn push to e5.
Declining with ...Nf6
Black does not have to take on c3. After 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5, the position looks like the Alapin, with Black's knight on d5 and White's pawn on e5.
Why not 3.Qxd4?
Taking back with the queen is legal, but 3...Nc6 hits the queen and Black gains a tempo. The gambit avoids that by spending a pawn and recapturing with a knight instead.
A standard development scheme
2... cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qe2
White has castled and freed the queen for Rd1. Black is a pawn up with a compact setup. The open c-file and the half-open d-file both point at Black's position.
Top replies by rating
cxd4 leads every band, and its share grows steadily with rating.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | cxd4 58% | e6 14% | d6 9% |
| 1200–1399 | cxd4 75% | e6 10% | d6 5% |
| 1400–1599 | cxd4 85% | e6 7% | Nc6 2% |
| 1600–1799 | cxd4 90% | e6 6% | Nc6 2% |
| 1800–1999 | cxd4 93% | e6 4% | Nc6 2% |
| 2000 and up | cxd4 95% | Nc6 2% | g6 2% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.