FoxyChess › Gambits › Smith-Morra Gambit
Smith-Morra Gambit
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3. White gives a pawn against the Sicilian for fast development and open c- and d-files. The pieces then pile up on Black's weak points, especially d6 and f7.
The idea
A pawn sacrifice against the Sicilian: 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3. After 3…dxc3 4.Nxc3 White has the open c- and d-files, quick development with Bc4, Nf3, O-O and Qe2, and the Sicilian player has none of the counterplay the Sicilian normally gives.
What happens next
White's set-up is almost automatic: Bc4, Nf3, O-O, Qe2, Rd1 and Rc1, with e5 or Nd5 as the typical breaks. Watch for tactics on the c-file against a queen on c7 and for the Bxf7+ ideas when the knight reaches g5. The attack tends to come on its own if Black develops slowly.
How to play against it
Accepting is fine if you know the plan: …Nc6, …d6, …e6, …a6, …Qc7, …Nf6 and …Be7, keeping the king out of the open files until it can castle. Many players prefer to decline with 3…Nf6 (the Alapin-like 4.e5 Nd5) or 3…d3, giving the pawn back for a quiet game.
A key line
More lines
Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted
Smith-Morra Accepted, 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6
Smith-Morra Accepted, 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 e6
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All 8 lines in this gambit
- Smith-Morra Gambit
- Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted
- Smith-Morra Accepted, 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6
- Smith-Morra Accepted, 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 e6
- Smith-Morra Accepted, 4...e6 5.Nf3 a6
- Smith-Morra Declined, 3...Nf6
- Smith-Morra Declined, 3...d3
- Smith-Morra Declined, 3...d5