Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5/2. d4/2...cxd4/3. c3

Smith-Morra gambit B21 Sicilian defence → 2...cxd4 3. c3 · Smith-Morra gambit White offers a pawn for quicker development and open c- and d-files. 3...dxc3 accepts the gambit, and White can recapture with 4. Nxc3. Black is now a pawn up, but in return White has a lead in development. They are ready to develop both their bishops, but Black will have to make two more pawn moves before they can get their bishops out. The game usually continues 4...Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4, where Black reaches the first major branching point in theory. Accepting is the main move, and the choice of chess engines (who are fearless). However, White gets good compensation for the pawn and attacking chances, so it is not uncommon to decline it. Transpose into an Alapin Sicilian There are a few ways Black may decline the gambit and reach a position similar to the Alapin Sicilian (1. e4 c5 2. c3). 3...Nf6 looks to transpose into the ...Nf6 line of the Alapin. The game continues 4. e5 Nd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. cxd4 and the same Alapin position is reached. This line is often preferred because because Black can answer the Alapin and Smith-Morra with the same preparation. 3...d5, the Scandinavian variation, may transpose into the Barman line of the Alapin Sicilian (where 2. c3 is answered with 2...d5). A nuance is that in the Barman defence Black has the option to delay ...cxd4 to prevent White from opening the c3 square for their knight until after White has committed to Na3, but in the Smith-Morra move order Black has already played ...cxd4. Other ways to decline 3...d3, the push variation, offers the pawn back to White in a way that leaves White's c-pawn blocking their knight's preferred square. This avoids giving White extra tempi (White will have to move their c-pawn again to develop their knight). After 4. Bxd3 Nc6 5. c4, White has a strong control over d5. 3...e5, the centre variation, allows White to recover the pawn and also get their knights out: 4. cxd4 exd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Nxd4. 3...Qa5!?, the wing variation, pins the c3-pawn. White can recover the material with 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nxd4, or they may first incorporate 5. b4! Qc7 6. b5, and 6...Ne5 7. Nxe5 Qxe5 8. Qxd4. Theory table 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3.c3 3 4 5 Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted c3dxc3 Nxc3Nc6 Nf3d6 = ...g6 Smith-Morra Gambit Declined ...d3 Bxd3Nc6 Nf3d6 +/= ...Nf6 e5Nd5 Nf3Nc6 = References Smith-Morra Gambit