Semi-Open · a defense for Black

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation

6/6
1.e4c52.d4cxd43.c3d3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation1.3M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
80%1.0M50%
8.7%111k51%
3.2%40k45%
0.6%7.3k51%
0.1%1.2k49%
0.1%1.1k52%
0.1%89346%
0%58349%
0%40153%
Famous games in this line352 master games
Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2587)Nakamura, Hikaru (2651)20071–0Grigoryan, K2. (2608)Moussard, J. (2608)20191–0Becerra Rivero, Julio (2555)Finegold, Benjamin (2493)20121–0Mons, Leon (2339)Naiditsch, Arkadij (2704)20131–0Berg, Emanuel (2539)Blomqvist, Erik (2503)20131–0Lenderman, Alex (2431)Ftacnik, Lubomir (2597)20061–0Tinture, Laurent (2455)Goncharenko, Georgy (2570)2007½–½Poweronoff (2487)Bychamp II (2517)20061–0
Heroes of this opening Nepomniachtchi, Ian · Grigoryan, K2. · Becerra Rivero, Julio · Mons, Leon
Category
Semi-Open
First move
1.e4
ECO
B21
Line
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d3
Gambit
Read the guide: Sicilian Defense: Scheveningen VariationExplore all 388 Sicilian Defense lines
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No reply to 1.e4 is played more. Fischer made the Najdorf his main weapon, and Kasparov's Sicilians are pillars of chess history — the Scheveningen against Karpov, the Dragon he unveiled against Anand in 1995. When you play 1...c5 you refuse symmetry, the same refusal that carried two world champions.

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