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Sicilian Defense

Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Siberian Variation

B21tacticalgambit

  1. 1.e4c5
  2. 2.d4cxd4
  3. 3.c3dxc3
  4. 4.Nxc3Nc6
  5. 5.Nf3e6
  6. 6.Bc4Qc7
972 games47%50%

A Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted line in which Black plays an early 6...Qc7, preparing knight raids with ...Ng4 and ...Nd4 known as the Siberian Trap.

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About the Siberian Variation

The Siberian Variation meets 6. Bc4 with 6...Qc7. The queen goes to the c-file early, and the line sets up a kingside knight raid. Black follows with ...Nf6 and ...Ng4, then hits White's customary Qe2 with ...Nd4. The Siberian Trap comes after 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. O-O Ng4, where the natural 9. h3 loses the queen to 9...Nd4. White most often replies 7. O-O. The engine gives White a slight edge, yet Black scores marginally better in Lichess games.

Popular continuations

Named variations 1