Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred

The Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred is 4.c3, where White offers the d4 pawn after 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4. Black's best is to take with ...dxc3 and develop calmly with ...Nc6 and ...d6, while White wants fast development and open files for the pawn.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3
ECO
B40
Engine
−0.28 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
777 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...dxc3, recapture with Nxc3 and play Be2, O-O and Qb3, hitting b7 and f7.
  • Against 4...Nf6, push e5 and after ...Nd5 take back with cxd4, reaching a pawn center.
  • Against 4...d5, take with exd5 and check on b5 to trade the light-squared bishops.

Black

  • Accept with 4...dxc3, the engine's top choice, and set up ...Nc6, ...d6 and ...Nf6.
  • If you prefer to decline, 4...Nf6 hits e4 and leads to a French-like center after e5.
  • 4...d5 is solid but leaves an isolated pawn on d5 after exd5 exd5.

Plans and pawn structure

Compared with the regular gambit, White already has the knight on f3 and Black already has ...e6. If Black takes, White follows with Nxc3, Be2, castling and Qb3, with rooks heading for c1 and d1. Black's small center with ...d6 and ...e6 stays solid, and the extra pawn counts later. If Black declines with ...Nf6 or ...d5, White gets a normal center and an even game.

Where the engine's main line heads: Scheveningen small center: Black pawns d6 and e6. The Scheveningen small center: Black pawns on d6 and e6 cover the central squares and wait for the right moment to break with ...d5 or ...e5.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.28: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.28 4...dxc3 5.Nxc3 Nc6 6.Be2 d6 7.O-O
  2. +0.06 4...Nf6 5.e5 Nd5 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bd3
  3. +0.20 4...d5 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Bxd7+

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

777 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.0%.

1200–159952.5%
1600–199949.5%
2000 and up43.6%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, accept with 4...dxc3 and play ...Nc6, ...d6 and ...Nf6. Watch for Qb3 against b7 and f7. Declining with ...Nf6 or ...d5 is fine but gives White easier play. After the capture, castle before you start any queenside pawn grabs with the queen.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred?

The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred starts 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.c3. Its ECO code is B40.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.28 at depth 20, which is level. In 777 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.0%. A playable surprise for White gambit lovers, but Black players who accept calmly have nothing to fear.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Deferred?

White offers the gambit one move later, after Nf3 and ...e6 are already in. Black can take the pawn and build a solid ...d6 and ...e6 setup, or decline with ...Nf6 or ...d5.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is dxc3, with Nf6 and d5 close behind. 4...dxc3 takes the pawn and dares White to prove compensation with Nxc3 and fast development.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.