Originally posted by Dragon FireYeah sorry I left out a move there...
You have missed out a black move which I think should be Nc6.
The line I think you mean is:
1. e4 .. c5;
2. d4 .. cXd;
3. c3 .. dXc;
4. NXc3 .. e6;
5. Nf3 .. Nc6;
6. Bcx4 .. Bb4
[fen]r1bqk1nr/pp1p1ppp/2n1p3/8/1bB1P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQK2R[/fen]
The best response now is
7. 0-0 when 7. ... Nge7 is probably best.
8. Qe2 .. 0-0;
9. Rd1 .. B ...[text shortened]... Qa5;
11. Rb1 [11. Bf4 giving an equal but unclear position is recommended by Palkovi] ... etc.
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 e6 5.Nf3 Bb4 - this was my line
Why is developing 5...Nc6 better?
Also, is there something wrong with exchanging the B for the N with Bxc3?
Originally posted by ChessJesterThis is the position after your suggested first 5 moves.
Yeah sorry I left out a move there...
1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 e6 5.Nf3 Bb4 - this was my line
Why is developing 5...Nc6 better?
Also, is there something wrong with exchanging the B for the N with Bxc3?
With Nc6 omitted white can now play Qd4 gaining a significant advantage.
Originally posted by Dragon FireI looked at this dubious defence in my Morra thread some time ago.
This is the position after your suggested first 5 moves.
...
..
.
With Nc6 omitted white can now play Qd4 gaining a significant advantage.
********************
Squelchbelch vs captainzep
Game 3036402
This game has an improved 6th move than in the next game example & also has an aggressive (but maybe unsound) bishop sac on move 11 to open the game right out & prevent the black king castling.
The game shows how you can dominate the center in the Morra, quickly building up good chances. The mobility & rapid development of the white pieces contrasts with the lack of movement from black - Ra8 & Bc8 in particular…
1.e4…c5
2.d4…cxd4
3.c3…dxc3
4.Nxc3…e6
5.Nf3…Bb4 This is the same slightly surprising move order for black as in my example game 2. In that game I chose the rather passive un-pinning move 6.Bd2. As I mentioned in the notes on that game, I realised afterwards that I had a much more dynamic response & I wanted to give this a try:
6.Qd4 defending the pinned Nc3 & attacks the bishop & black’s g7 pawn.
cont...
6…Bxc3+
7.Qxc3 she is well placed & the g7 pawn is still pinned. Black already needs to tread carefully.
7…f6 I was expecting the developing/defensive Nf6, as the f6 pawn-push weakens the Kingside somewhat
8.Bc4…Ne7 we both look to king safety
9.0-0…Nc6
10.Rd1…d5 although black stakes some claim to the center, the fork on Bc4 & my e4 pawn is irrelevant, because of the standard Rd1 Morra move pinning the d-pawn against black’s queen. 10…Qc7 would be slightly stronger here I think, stopping e4-e5 & un-pinning the d-pawn
11.Bg5?! Maybe this bishop sacrifice isn’t entirely sound, but the chance to rip into my opponent’s KS & prevent him castling with Qxg7 next move looks very strong. I considered 11.Bb5, Bf4, Be3 or maybe even exd5 looking to exchange & clear the e-file, but went with my gut instinct
11…fxg5 perhaps not surprisingly, black takes the offered bishop[/b]
cont...
12.Qxg7 I need attacking & positional compensation fast as I’m now a piece down after a dozen moves …Ng6 - good move & the one I saw when I looked through the bishop sac – developing the knight a little & defending the Rh8 at once
13.exd5 I can open the center, exposing the king, going for a fast win & at the same time try to stop …Qe7, kicking my queen away …exd5 black looks in bad shape now
14.Bxd5 threatening Qf7mate …Qa5
15.Bxc6+…bxc6
16.Re1+…Kd8 only move as anything else pretty much loses on the spot
17.R(a)d1+ black’s material advantage will be turned around to give up his queen & g5 pawn for a rook just to keep playing
Black’s king is under fire:
cont...
17…Qd5
18.Rxd5…cxd5
19.Nxg5 I snap-up the pawn & bring my knight into the attack, threatening the beginner’s favourite - king/rook fork - here on f7. If now 19…Rf8 I can play 20.Ne6+ forcing the bishop to take & I can re-capture with my rook & black is hopeless
so, 19.…Re8 forcing the exchange of rooks.
20.Rxe8+…Kxe8
21.Qf7+ forking king & d5 pawn …Kd8 the only move
22.Qxd5+ another fork, this time against the king & dormant a8 rook
Now if 22…Kc7 (defending bishop) then for instance, 23.Qxa8…a6 - defends pawn 24.Qa7+ & black goes further behind
Black resigns
1-0
And here's an earlier effort against the same defence where I luckily won after my opponent blundered later:
Game 2972094
Squelchbelch vs japets
1.e4…c5
2.d4…cxd4
3.c3…dxc3
4.Nxc3…e6 Nc6 is the usual move order but this could just go back to a normal looking Morra.
5.Nf3…Bb4 this is not going back to a main line. Again, 5…Nc6 was expected. I was now sure that my opponent was just playing moves that felt natural to their style, without having any particular experience against the gambit.
6.Bd2 hmm - it un-pins the knight but is maybe rather passive. Looking back at it I had 6.Qd4! forking the Bb4 & pawn g8, forcing the bishop back & gaining time & central control. Maybe even 6.Bf4 was better.
…Ne7 I half expected 6…Bxc3 & the exchange. Black can castle now though, as I plan to soon.
7.Bc4…0-0
8.Qe2…N(b)c6
9.0-0
fig 17
In summary:
6.Qd4 is the correct move!
So I am coming to realise that Dragon Fire ans Squelchbelch are pretty hot on the old SMG..................
What are your opinions on the following (this is what I have started to play after a couple of OTB losses with the SMG as Black)......
1.e4 c5
2.d4 cxd4
3.c3 Nf6
Is there a really hot line for White or do you have little choice but to transpose to the c3 Sicilian with 4.e5
Originally posted by najdorfslayerThat's one of the big plusses about the Morra - the only Sicilian theory you really need to know is for the c3 Sicilian, which is reasonably good for white anyway.
So I am coming to realise that Dragon Fire ans Squelchbelch are pretty hot on the old SMG..................
What are your opinions on the following (this is what I have started to play after a couple of OTB losses with the SMG as Black)......
1.e4 c5
2.d4 cxd4
3.c3 Nf6
Is there a really hot line for White or do you have little choice but to transpose to the c3 Sicilian with 4.e5
I'd say 90% of the time black accepts the gambit, but both 4.e5 or 4.cxd4 are perfectly ok & can lead to open positions which is what white wants.
Originally posted by najdorfslayerso far I have always played e5.
So I am coming to realise that Dragon Fire ans Squelchbelch are pretty hot on the old SMG..................
What are your opinions on the following (this is what I have started to play after a couple of OTB losses with the SMG as Black)......
1.e4 c5
2.d4 cxd4
3.c3 Nf6
Is there a really hot line for White or do you have little choice but to transpose to the c3 Sicilian with 4.e5
Of the 3 games I can find here my results are mixed W1 D1 L1. The sole win was in Game 2233091 but was against my weakest opponent. My sole loss in Game 2707373 was against an engine whereas Game 2573547 was a draw.
I am not convinced that 6. f4 was the best move despite it yielding my sole win and avoided it in subsequent games prefering 6 Bc4 in the following position:-
Edit I have just realised the draw should have been a win as I accidently dropped my Rook on f3 on move 44 having intended to play Rf2.