familiarity breeds contempt...
Smith Morra Gambit

There has been some incorrect analysis on the third diagram earlier in this thread. This is the true reason why a push to e5 is clever:

This site I used, I played Smith Morra Gambit in games shorter than 30 minutes, now I prefer closed Sicilian.
Mytik: In 3rd diagram black played a6 before Nf6, position u showed is basic trap in smith morra gambit
Larz: i will look that site seems to be interesting
Anyway, to the 3rd diagram, what about this

I want to thank Nosferatu for the link. At my level of learning the GM at that link provided a really great step by step method of learning the basics of the Morra-Smith Gambit. I added the site to my Favorites list. I could really use more help of this nature. There appear to be other openings on the site that address other openings. I will go over them all and see what else is there. If anyone has links to any similar clear, step by step free learning sites I would love to see them. I think they could help a lot of us lower class players improve our openings rather quickly. Thanks, again. Scott

I'd be interested in hearing how experienced Smith-Morra players deal with an early a6/e6 by black. Most of the analysis I've seen in this thread assumes that black will cooperate with white's plans and that kind of thinking is a recipe for a thrashing.
This line is covered by NCO ( Nunn ) and is the only line given as favoring black.

There has been some incorrect analysis on the third diagram earlier in this thread. This is the true reason why a push to e5 is clever:
In the third diagram black play's 6.a6 not 6.Nf6 that's why 7.e5 doesn't work

I'd be interested in hearing how experienced Smith-Morra players deal with an early a6/e6 by black. Most of the analysis I've seen in this thread assumes that black will cooperate with white's plans and that kind of thinking is a recipe for a thrashing.
I could tell how I would play against it but I'd need more info after 4...e6 5.Nf3 a6 6.Bc4, black has couple options 6...b5, Nc6, d6. One common theme when black plays a6, is the weak b6 square, white can play Be3 and Na4 in some lines, and gernerate an attack based on that square.

Here's another thought down that e6/a6 path, with an early rook-lift to d7. I've followed it through the Game Explorer, and black scores very well with it; in the games where I've used it, I never even really felt like I was under a lot of pressure. White eventually timed out at the end of this game, but Black is up a clean pawn:
A question: after 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 e6 what's the purpose of 5.Bc4? The bishop will do nothing on the a2-g8 diagonal.

Spiffe, white didn't play that line correctly 10.Be3 is stronger and leads to very complex positions. check the move list for some variations.
I would like to refresh the topic, but mainly because i would like to employ this line as black
Cental pawns are doubled, weak and isolated, 1 pawn seems to be meaningless, isnt it?
What do you think about it, maybe playing e6 instead of capturing is just better move?
I would like to refresh the topic, but mainly because i would like to employ this line as black
Cental pawns are doubled, weak and isolated, 1 pawn seems to be meaningless, isnt it?
What do you think about it, maybe playing e6 instead of capturing is just better move?
lol
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9... Nge7 is quite a poor move isn't it! I'm looking into the Smith-Morra, also for its dangerous quality to the unfamiliar.