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

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/8/8/3pP3/2P5/PP3PPP/RNBQKBNR b
Moves: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3

Smith-Morra Gambit

Now white offers a pawn for quicker development and open c- and d-files. Black can accept the gambit with 3...dxc3, or decline it, most commonly with 3...d3. The natural square for the knight (c3) is still occupied by the white pawn, so white will lose a tempo.

Theory table

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

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3.c3

	3	4	5
Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted	c3 dxc3	Nxc3 Nc6	Nf3 d6	=
	... g6
Smith-Morra Gambit Declined	... d3	Bxd3 Nc6	Nf3 d6	+/=
	... Nf6	e5 Nd5	Nf3 Nc6	=