Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Morphy Defense Deferred

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 a6 7.O-O b5 8.Bb3 Bc5

ECO B21

The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Morphy Defense Deferred is a chess opening line in the Sicilian Defense complex, reached after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 a6 7.O-O b5 8.Bb3 Bc5.

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

The defining move Bc5 is chosen by Black on move 8.

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.