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Sicilian Defense

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian Variation, Siberian Trap

B21tacticalgambitoffbeat

  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.d4cxd4
  3. 3.c3dxc3
  4. 4.Nxc3Nc6
  5. 5.Nf3e6
  6. 6.Bc4Qc7
  7. 7.Qe2Nf6
  8. 8.O-ONg4
356 games40%58%

Smith-Morra Gambit line where 8...Ng4 sets the Siberian Trap: the natural 9. h3 loses White's queen to 9...Nd4, a tactic aimed at the h2 square.

Train it in Theoria

About the Siberian Trap

This is the position where the Siberian setup springs its trap. With the queen on c7 and the knight on g4 both bearing on h2, the routine 9. h3 is met by 9...Nd4, which wins White's queen, and Black scores heavily on Lichess after that move. White more safely continues 9. Nb5 or 9. g3. The engine also favors 9. Rd1, which stops ...Nd4, and assesses the position as roughly balanced.

Popular continuations