Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. d4/2...cxd4/3. c3/3...dxc3/4. Nxc3/4...Nc6

Smith-Morra gambit accepted B21 Sicilian defence → Smith-Morra gambit → 4. Nxc3 4...Nc6 Black gets the development of their pieces underway and starts to control the centre and the d4 and e5 squares. Control of e5 prevents White pushing a pawn there, at least for now, and control of d4 means Black has the option of developing their king's bishop with ...e6 and ...Bb4 without allowing Qd4 to attack b4 and the g7-pawn. 5. Nf3 is White's main move, followed by 6. Bc4 to develop and to prepare to castle kingside. (White surely doesn't want to castle queenside into the open c-file.) Theory table References