SMG: Pin Defense
Let’s face it, there are a at least 15 different variations Black can choose from when encountering the Smith-Morra Gambit. But in reality after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 I always come across the same Top 3, consisting of the ever popular Scheveningen Formation 4. ..Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 (see Blogposts here and here), followed by the Paulsen Formation 4. ..Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 a6 (Blogs here and here) and the Fianchetto aka Dragon variation 4. ..Nc6 5.Nf3 g6.
Quite recently however, GM Eugene Perelsteyn posted a series of lessons on Chess.com called “Every Gambit Refuted”, in which he recommends the Pin Defense as a means to get the sting out of this gambit. He claims to own and have read Esserman’s book “Mayhem in the Morra”, but it turns out he didn’t fully finish the chapter on this variation after all.
In any case, likely inspired by the lesson, my most recent opponent took a stand and decided to use the Pin Defense and Perelsteyn’s recommended lines as a strategy to counter my attack. Not much happened in the first 7 moves as we both played by the book. In move 8 however, Perelsteyn mentions no less than 5 different options for White, and analyses them sometimes up to the 16th move. For the one Esserman actually recommends, being 8.Qc2, Perelsteyn mentions 8. ..0-0 9.Rd1 Ng6 followed by 10.Bg5 Qa5 where he is satisfied with the position, but ignores that Esserman actually recommends to play 10.Be3, where the DSB is on its optimal square.
So as of move 10, both my opponent and me were “out of book”, although I still had a couple of SMG-principles to follow in the rest of the game. Here is how it played out.
In conclusion it doesn’t look like we SMG-enthusiasts have to worry too much that our favourite opening might be refuted. We could see a little rise in Pin Defenses we encounter, but after 10.Be3 we can carry on our usual attack. Maybe in a slightly more positional game than we’re used to, but that shouldn’t spoil the fun.
