Questions tagged [smith-morra-gambit]
A chess opening gambit characterized by the moves 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3
13
questions
0
votes
1
answer
78
views
(black) why the pawn H6 is not good move in this position?
(My turn[black])
I want to attack the g5 knight, so I up the pawn at H6, but the chess engine evaluate 3.4 to 1.3 my winning points. Instead engine recommended pawn D6, pawn D5, king H8 is better move....
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why is sacrificing an extra pawn good for White in the Goring gambit but bad in the Smith-Morra gambit?
In both the Smith-Morra (accepted) and Goring gambit lines, white offers a pawn on c3. If Black takes the pawn on c3, White can play Bc4, offering a second pawn in exchange for rapid development with ...
- 313
5
votes
1
answer
456
views
White's plan in Smith-Morra gambit?
Related
The Smith-Morra gambit, or the Morra gambit, is where white sacrifices one pawn to get early development while black has not really done anything. This gambit is also used against the Sicilian ...
- 1,123
10
votes
1
answer
694
views
Is this theoretical novelty double-piece sacrifice actually sound?
Working my way through Hannes Langrock's book on the modern Morra Gambit (second edition), I came across an interesting sacrifice that he believes is at best worth a draw. Indeed that's also Stockfish'...
- 557
6
votes
2
answers
482
views
What is White's compensation in the Smith-Morra Gambit, Paulsen Formation (a6, e6, Nc6) after an early ...Na5?
The variation is almost forced if White aims for the standard Smith-Morra setup. At the end White is a pawn down and no longer has two bishops, but is well developed. However Black's setup does not ...
- 3,469
3
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How does one play against 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 in Sicilian?
I'm wondering about the move order 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 in Sicilian. If black does not try to protect the pawn and plays some normal move like 3... d6, 3... e6 or 3... Nc6, then 4. Nxd4 transposes into ...
- 1,772
3
votes
2
answers
290
views
Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Accepted, Scheveningen Formation, 7.O-O
[fen "r1bqk1nr/pp2bppp/2npp3/8/2B1P3/2N1BN2/PP3PPP/R2Q1RK1 b kq - 3 8"]
What could be the best possible response to 8. Be3 for black? Would it be pushing the e pawn by a square, or developing the ...
- 133
2
votes
1
answer
443
views
What is considered the current main line for Black against the Smith-Morra gambit?
I am referring to main lines where the pawn sacrifice is accepted.
- 6,111
6
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Is the Smith-Morra gambit still worth playing at a ~1600 level?
I've been playing the Smith-Morra Gambit (e4 c5 d4 cxd4 c3) against the Sicilian defense for about 2 years. I have a tournament coming up in 3 days and I am beginning to doubt if the Smith-Morra would ...
2
votes
2
answers
217
views
Sicilian, Smith Morra gambit pawn structure
I am an aspiring chess player and I just discovered this famous opening a few months back. Currently I am using Stockfish as my go-to reference to find the best move, but unfortunately it does not ...
- 21
6
votes
1
answer
339
views
Instructive games with a white h-pawn push in the Smith-Morra gambit?
I like to play the Smith-Morra gambit. Recently, a friend showed me a game where he (as white) successfully played a h-pawn push in the Smith-Morra gambit, which both damaged black's kingside while ...
- 4,340
14
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to best respond to an early black Qa5 in the Smith-Morra gambit?
I often play the Smith-Morra gambit. Recently I've been seeing black play an early Qa5, such as
[fen ""]
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Qa5 4. *
or
[fen ""]
1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. Nf3 Qa5+ 4. *
It ...
9
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Why is 4...e5 not popular in the Smith-Morra Gambit?
When I encounter the Sicilian as White, I often will play the Smith-Morra Gambit. My opponent played 4...e5, but this does not appear to be a very popular move as there are only 2 games on www....
- 16.7k