Chessy
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation
After 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d3, White has a sharp choice but also a loose target to handle. Your main job as Black is simple: respond accurately, keep the position under control, and punish any hesitation. The drill below lets you practise the key reply, the engine’s preferred continuation, and the most common ways White tries to make the pawn push work. This is a good opening to know if you want a practical fight without drifting into passive defence.
Play the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →The point of the push
This variation begins with a very direct decision by Black. Instead of taking the easy route and allowing White to build a normal Morra-style initiative, Black advances the game with the pawn push on d3. That creates an unusual position immediately and asks White to solve a concrete problem on move three. As Black, you are not looking for a flashy attack here. You are looking for a stable, accurate solution that keeps White from getting easy development and an automatic initiative.
What the engine wants you to do
Stockfish rates this +0.36, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The engine’s best move is Bxd3, and the listed continuation shows the kind of development you should expect to follow: Bxd3 d6 h3 g6. The lesson is clear: meet the position actively, recover the pawn on d3, and then finish your setup with sound piece development instead of trying to cling to the extra pawn at any cost.
What White usually tries
The position has been reached 273,916 times in the Lichess database, so this is not an obscure side road. White’s most common try is Bxd3 with 213,313 games, and the other main replies are Qxd3, Nf3, c4, f4, and Bf4. Some of these moves aim for quick development, while others try to make the position tactical or awkward. As Black, you should be ready for White to choose a practical developing move rather than one single forced line.
The practical takeaway for Black
The numbers are close enough to tell you that this opening is playable, but White keeps a modest pull. Across 273,916 games, White scores 47.0%, draws 3.7%, and Black wins 49.2%. That means your results can be perfectly fine if you handle the position well, but you should not expect the push variation to give you a free equality claim. The right attitude is to stay flexible, meet development with development, and avoid unnecessary pawn-grabbing detours.
Results across 273,916 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bxd3 | 213,313 | 47.2% |
| Qxd3 | 24,422 | 42.9% |
| Nf3 | 24,073 | 48.4% |
| c4 | 10,035 | 50.2% |
| f4 | 704 | 49.9% |
| Bf4 | 345 | 45.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation good for Black?
It is playable, but it is not an easy equaliser. Stockfish gives +0.36, a small edge for White, so you should expect a slightly tougher game if White knows what they are doing.
What is Black’s best move in this position?
The engine’s best move is **Bxd3**. The suggested continuation is **Bxd3 d6 h3 g6**, which points you toward quick development and a solid setup.
What are White’s main replies here?
The most-played continuations are **Bxd3**, **Qxd3**, **Nf3**, **c4**, **f4**, and **Bf4**. White often tries to develop quickly and keep the pressure on after the unusual pawn push.
How often does Black win from this position?
Across 273,916 games at this exact position, Black wins 49.2%. The position is playable for Black, but the overall statistics still show White with the small edge given by the engine.