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

Smith-Morra Gambit
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pp1ppppp/8/8/3pP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQKBNR w
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4

Smith-Morra Gambit

The gambit actually is offered by the next move 3. c3. Taking back with 3. Qxd4?! really isn't a promising option, since the queen will be pushed around, while black makes developing moves like Nc6. Also, unlike the Center game, the trade of the c-pawn for the d-pawn also gives black added central control. However, 3.Nf3 is probably a promising way to avoid the Smith Morra. Black does best to transpose to the Open Sicilian, as if e5?!, c3 (the tempting 3. Nxe5?? Qa5+ loses the horse) gives white a better version of the Smith Morra with a hole on d5 and a backward d-pawn.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4

	3	4	5
Smith-Morra Gambit	c3 dxc3	Nxc3 Nc6	Nf3 d6	=
	Nf3 d6	=
	Qxd4 Nc6	=/+