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The brilliancy that will make you want to play the Smith–Morra

#2

I remember I used to hate the Sicilian. I tried many Anti-Sicilians including the Smith-Morra. Main problem I have with it are moves like 3... Nff6 or 3... d5 transposing into Alapin, not something I'd want to play with White. Or even 3... d3, there are just too many Anti-Smith-Morras for my liking.

However, if Black accepts, games were always fun, and this blog is a great example. Also it's pretty cool you managed to reproduce this game on your own!

I remember I used to hate the Sicilian. I tried many Anti-Sicilians including the Smith-Morra. Main problem I have with it are moves like 3... Nff6 or 3... d5 transposing into Alapin, not something I'd want to play with White. Or even 3... d3, there are just too many Anti-Smith-Morras for my liking. However, if Black accepts, games were always fun, and this blog is a great example. Also it's pretty cool you managed to reproduce this game on your own!
#3

Yeah black went wrong at 3rd move entering the smith morra in the first place. Why not just force white into Alapin?

Yeah black went wrong at 3rd move entering the smith morra in the first place. Why not just force white into Alapin?
#4

what kind of gem is it in the picture??? dazzling blue

what kind of gem is it in the picture??? dazzling blue
#5

Hi @CkickyCheck, thank you, yes I am trying to provide some good games, and this one was worth looking at.

I can confirm Black can transpose to Alapin with ...Nf6 or ...d5, but one can research fun variations and pursue those. Also, at least at my level, most players accept the gambit. The lower the rating, the higher the acceptance rate.

After 3...Nf6, I keep offering the pawn on c3 (rather than taking with cxd4), and Black often does go into a gambit later on. As long as you avoid a symmetrical structure with cxd4.

After 3...d5, there are various tries as well. After 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. cxd4, we are in an "exchange Barmen defense" (as if Black had traded ...cxd4 cxd4 already, which is too early). This is an isolated queen's pawn position, where White may have attacking possibilities. Another try is 5. Nf3, again delaying cxd4 because we want to unbalance the position.

After 3...d3, we do not need to play into the main lines – I prefer the plan with f2-f4 and a kingside attack, with the c3 pawn staying there. I have a study with about 20 games in this subvariation, still be to analysed.

Overall, I think there should be active and attacking variations in every variation when Black declines the gambit, we just need to find and research them.

Hi @CkickyCheck, thank you, yes I am trying to provide some good games, and this one was worth looking at. I can confirm Black can transpose to Alapin with ...Nf6 or ...d5, but one can research fun variations and pursue those. Also, at least at my level, most players accept the gambit. The lower the rating, the higher the acceptance rate. After 3...Nf6, I keep offering the pawn on c3 (rather than taking with cxd4), and Black often does go into a gambit later on. As long as you avoid a symmetrical structure with cxd4. After 3...d5, there are various tries as well. After 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. cxd4, we are in an "exchange Barmen defense" (as if Black had traded ...cxd4 cxd4 already, which is too early). This is an isolated queen's pawn position, where White may have attacking possibilities. Another try is 5. Nf3, again delaying cxd4 because we want to unbalance the position. After 3...d3, we do not need to play into the main lines – I prefer the plan with f2-f4 and a kingside attack, with the c3 pawn staying there. I have a study with about 20 games in this subvariation, still be to analysed. Overall, I think there should be active and attacking variations in every variation when Black declines the gambit, we just need to find and research them.
#6

I am a Sicilian player and I personally hate the smith morra. Only after I found the way to play some anti smith - morra variations could I sleep at night...
But you are right. Most people accept the smith morra, after which white has a real fun time playing chess.

I am a Sicilian player and I personally hate the smith morra. Only after I found the way to play some anti smith - morra variations could I sleep at night... But you are right. Most people accept the smith morra, after which white has a real fun time playing chess.
#7

Hi @OneoftheTwo,

Oh yeah, I can so relate to that. One needs to have a pet response ready and then work on it, whether it 's ...Nf6 or ...d5 or ...d3 or ...e6 or ...g6.

The acceptance rate is about 50% at master level and down to 75% at around 1600.

Hi @OneoftheTwo, Oh yeah, I can so relate to that. One needs to have a pet response ready and then work on it, whether it 's ...Nf6 or ...d5 or ...d3 or ...e6 or ...g6. The acceptance rate is about 50% at master level and down to 75% at around 1600.
#8

How do you keep offering the pawn after 3...Nf6

How do you keep offering the pawn after 3...Nf6
#9

@The_ERuptodon said in #8:

How do you keep offering the pawn after 3...Nf6

In my opinion, you just play a normal Alapin with White but you just leave the pawn hanging for a while. Taking it with Black later on is almost never good as it wastes time for development, but at some point you just capture it back, have equal material and nice development with White.

@The_ERuptodon said in #8: > How do you keep offering the pawn after 3...Nf6 In my opinion, you just play a normal Alapin with White but you just leave the pawn hanging for a while. Taking it with Black later on is almost never good as it wastes time for development, but at some point you just capture it back, have equal material and nice development with White.
#10

Thanks for your answer. concrete moves please.

Thanks for your answer. concrete moves please.