Chess Openings Lab
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Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation

The Push Variation is 3...d3, where Black declines the Smith-Morra by advancing the pawn instead of taking on c3. White wins the pawn back with Bxd3 or plays c4 first for a space edge, while Black hopes the d3 pawn slows White's development.

Moves
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d3
ECO
B21
Engine
+0.52 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,016 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Take with 4.Bxd3 and follow with c4 and Nf3, building a Maroczy-style grip on d5.
  • 4.c4 first takes d5 under control, and Bxd3 can wait a move.
  • 4.Nf3 with h3 is slower; the d3 pawn falls later once the bishop is ready.

Black

  • Develop with ...Nc6 and ...e6, then ...Bc5 to put the bishop on an active diagonal.
  • Play ...a5 against White's a3, stopping a queenside expansion with b4 and keeping c5 for the bishop.
  • A fianchetto with ...g6 and ...Bg7 also fits, aiming at the c3 pawn and the long diagonal.

Plans and pawn structure

White wins back the pawn and gets a pawn on c4 next to e4, a structure that takes d5 away from Black. White's plan is Nf3, castling and Be3, then a slow queenside push with a3 and b4. Black aims for active pieces: ...Bc5, ...Nc6 and ...a5, with ...d6 and ...e5 or ...f5 later to fight for the center. Black must not let White build all this for free.

Where the engine's main line heads: Maroczy bind: White pawns on c4 and e4. The Maroczy bind: White pawns on c4 and e4 clamp the d5 square, so Black's ...d5 and ...b5 breaks are hard to play.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.52: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.52 4.Bxd3 Nc6 5.c4 e6 6.Nf3 Bc5
  2. +0.42 4.Nf3 g6 5.h3 Bg7 6.Bxd3 Nc6
  3. +0.39 4.c4 e5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bxd3 Nc6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,016 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.3%.

1200–159944.0%
1600–199948.8%
2000 and up53.3%

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

Where it goes next

  • Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Dubois Variation4.c4 · rare

How to play against it

As White, regain the pawn with 4.Bxd3 and grab more space with c4. Do not let the d3 pawn live too long, because it blocks the f1 bishop and your development. Keep b4 in mind for queenside play after a3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation?

The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation starts 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d3. Its ECO code is B21.

Is the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.52 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,016 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.3%. An easy way out of the gambit for Black, but White gets a comfortable space edge with simple play.

What is the main idea of the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation?

Black pushes the pawn to d3 to avoid the gambit and slow White's bishop. White takes it back with Bxd3, adds c4 and gets a space edge with a Maroczy-type grip on d5.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Bxd3, with Nf3 and c4 close behind. 4.Bxd3 regains the pawn at once and develops the bishop to an active square.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.