Source Lichess
White loses more often than wins at this level
At All Ratings, Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov Formation gives White a -6.6% minimum advantage (90% confidence). This gambit underperforms at this level.
| Rating | Min Adv | White Win | Draw | White Loss | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1200-1399 | -23.7% | 44.3% | 2.0% | 53.7% | 126 |
| 1400-1599 | -10.8% | 46.1% | 2.8% | 51.1% | 765 |
| 1600-1799 | -11.5% | 44.5% | 2.7% | 52.8% | 2.5K |
| 1800-1999 | -9.6% | 44.7% | 3.3% | 52.0% | 4.9K |
| 2000-2199 | -7.1% | 45.7% | 3.7% | 50.6% | 5.5K |
| 2200-2499 | -4.3% | 47.4% | 3.7% | 48.9% | 3.6K |
| 2500+ | -9.4% | 47.1% | 4.2% | 48.7% | 439 |
The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov Formation breaks at 1200-1399 overall (all time controls)—the first rating bracket where White no longer statistically wins more than loses. Below this rating, the gambit is viable for White. Note: breakpoints vary by time control—use the filters above for specific data.
The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov Formation has a 45.7% (90% CI: 45.0%-46.3%) win rate for White overall, with a 3.4% draw rate and 50.9% loss rate. This is based on 18K games from Lichess.
The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov Formation performs best at 2200-2499, where White has a minimum advantage of +-4.3%. This means we're 90% confident White wins at least -4.3 percentage points more than they lose at this rating.
Classical (+-3.8% edge) outperforms Rapid (+-9.7% edge) by 5.9 percentage points. Faster time controls typically favor gambits because opponents have less time to find accurate defenses.
Yes, significantly. Breakpoints by time control: Bullet: 1400-1599, Blitz: 1200-1399, Rapid: 1600-1799, Classical: Never. "Never" means the gambit remains viable through all rating brackets in that time control. Faster time controls typically extend viability.
The Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov Formation is extremely sharp with only 3.4% draws—96.6% of games end decisively. This makes it an excellent choice when you need to play for a win rather than accept a draw.
If you're below 1200-1399 overall, the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov Formation is statistically favorable for White. Above that rating, opponents defend better and the gambit's edge disappears. Consider your typical opponents' level and the time control—faster games extend the gambit's viability.
As Black, the Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Taimanov Formation becomes easier to defend at 1200-1399 and above. Key principles: accept the material but develop quickly, castle early, trade pieces to reduce attacking potential, and return material at the right moment to neutralize the initiative. In faster time controls, the gambit is harder to defend—consider declining or transposing if you're not prepared.
This analysis is based on 18K games from Lichess. All statistics include 90% confidence intervals. Generally, 300+ games provide statistically meaningful results. Rating-specific and time-control-specific breakdowns have their own sample sizes shown in the table above.