Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Classical Formation

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO B21), reached after 14 half-moves: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nf6.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black bishop — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Classical Formation is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code B21. ECO group B (B00–B99) covers semi-open games (1.e4 with Black playing anything other than 1…e5), with the Sicilian, French, Caro-Kann and Pirc/Modern at its heart. This particular variation is reached after 14 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nf6.

It belongs to the Sicilian Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted → Classical Formation line). The immediate parent line is Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, transitioned via 7…Nf6.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.e4 c5, 2.d4 cxd4, 3.c3 dxc3, 4.Nxc3 Nc6, 5.Nf3 d6, 6.Bc4 a6. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.