Don Chess

Learn the Smith-Morra Gambit

The anti-Sicilian: you give up a pawn and get open lines and fast development. Sicilian players hate it.

You play with White. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

Train the Smith-Morra Gambit now →

The main line

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Be7 9.Rd1

B21 · Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Scheveningen Formation

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

1.e4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on e4.
1…c5 Fights for the centre from the side with the pawn on c5.
2.d4 Attacks the pawn on c5 – the fight for the centre begins.
2…cxd4 Takes the pawn on d4.
3.c3 Attacks the pawn on d4 – the fight for the centre begins.
3…dxc3 Takes the pawn on c3.
4.Nxc3 Takes back on c3 – material is level again.
4…Nc6 Develops the knight to c6 – pieces out first, then attack.
5.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
5…d6 Prepares the pawn move to e5.
6.Bc4 Develops the bishop to c4 – pieces out first, then attack.
6…e6 Prepares the pawn move to d5.
7.O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.
7…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
8.Qe2 The queen comes to e2 and puts on pressure.
8…Be7 Develops the bishop to e7 – pieces out first, then attack.
9.Rd1 The rook goes to d1 – to the file where it will soon be needed.

Idea and plans

The idea

After 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 White gives a pawn for fast development and open lines (c- and d-file).

Plan for White

Nc3, Bc4, Nf3, castle, rooks to c1 and d1 – then pressure on d6, f7 and Black’s queen.

Plan for Black

Keep the pawn and develop carefully; …e6, …a6 and …Nge7, or …d6 with …Nf6, are solid.

Tip

Watch out for Nd5 and Nb5 jumps and sacrifices on e6 or f7.

The 4 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Scheveningen Formation B21Main line
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Qe2 Be7 9.Rd1
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted, Kan Formation B21
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 4…e6 5.Nf3 a6 6.Bc4
Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined B22
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 3…Nf6 4.e5 Nd5
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Declined, Push Variation B21
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 3…d3 4.Qxd3