Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3

ECO B21

The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted is a chess opening line in the Sicilian Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3.

It is catalogued under code B21 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move dxc3 is chosen by Black on move 3.

15 named continuations branch from this position, including the Chicago Defense and the Classical Formation.

The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted is a line of the Sicilian Defense. The Sicilian Defense is a chess opening that begins 1.e4 c5. Read the complete Sicilian Defense guide: what it is, how to reach it, its main variations, how to play against it, and its history.

Named variations

• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Chicago Defense — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Classical Formation — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Danish Variation — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Fianchetto Defense — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Finegold Defense — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Kan Formation — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Larsen Defense — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Morphy Defense — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Morphy Defense Deferred — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Paulsen Formation — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Pin Defense — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Scheveningen Formation — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian Variation — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Sozin Formation — ECO B21
• Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov Formation — ECO B21

More ECO B21 openings

• Bird Opening — 1.f4

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Smith-Morra Gambit course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.