Sac for the attack

Originally posted by Squelchbelch

Nice game.

Do you have any particular book reccommendations for playing (as or against) the Smith-Morra? I don't usually play 1. e4 as white, but I enjoy playing both sides of it when I get the chance, and the internet hasn't provided the best variety of books from what I've found.

A little off-topic, but here's a game I played as black and won... Just to even the balance... 😉

Game 3672497

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
Game 4011610

25. ... Nxf4 instead of the played move seems to at least buy time.

I think black's game after 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cd 3. c3 dc 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6! are preferable, although it takes some more effort (not too much) to prove it fully. 😀

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
Game 4011610

I recall going through the Hoogendorn analysis and also the first part of the IM Lenderman(?) video about the Smith-Morra (approx. 25 min. long) I think his name was.

Top-tier players as black generally play Nc6/e6/a6/Nge7/Ng6.

I am not sure if this is the most stringent defense for Black though; I recall reading a review on the Silman site that delaying the queenside N development somehow takes some of the strength out of an eventual e5 and note that the timing of Bb7/Qb6/Nd7 or c6 I think are critical. The book review obviously does not go into lines.

Black scores well with it (Nc6/e6/a6/Nge7/Ng6) defense because white usually doesn't know the correct plan for dealing with the Nc6/e6/a6/Nge7/Ng6 though.

Here is a game (posted in the fora) before illustrating strong Black defense against a white setup that I believe is incorrect. Generally the Bc4/Qe2/Re1 setup is best but not against the Nc6/e6/a6/Nge7/Ng6 defense.

Game 3912500

General principles:

White's bishop doesn't belong on c4 if d6 hasn't been played; otherwise, it is just hitting brick. So better is 6. Bf4 instead of Bc4 in your game, at least according to the Lenderman analysis I think is best.

If Black plays d6 then Bc4; if not then Bd3 though perhaps development of the bishop to d3 is better delayed after Rc1 which is likely in most lines. Of course white plays e5 at some point.

Compensation for the pawn comes in the hot c and d files.


Ng5 seems premature although Bxh6 is a nice find; I am sure Black likely had better defensive resources before then.

I know that you have seen both analyses (chessville/Lenderman) before if I recall correctly so you may already know much of what I have said. 🙂

I have played through all the chessville lines and the analysis is good although incomplete, though sufficient for introductory purposes. It's worth going through if you are considering keeping the Smith-Morra as a permanent part of your repetoire.

The Smith-Morra is good for quick wins; white has great chances because it is very easy for an opponent to awry. The lines and ideas are very, very easy to learn as white.

However, if your attack doesn't work you are still down a pawn, but most people really don't know the lines, even very strong players. Also, almost all the players who I have faced almost always decline the gambit w/d5 and I do not like all Alapin lines.

Originally posted by Yuga
Ng5 seems premature...

Thanks for the analysis.
The idea behind 12.Ng5 was to simply weaken black's KS before his ...0-0. This is a common theme in Morra games.

I think 16.Bxh6 is probably unsound, but makes sense with everything pointing at his very weak KS defences - especially the h7 square.
After 16.Bxh6 I expected 16...gxh6 then I had 17.Qxh6...Qf6, 18.Rxd7 & black is looking decidedly dodgy.

He seemed more worried about hoovering-up material than K safety & after 19...Qxc2, 20.Ng5 it's effectively lights out for black even though he's (temporarily) up 5 points.

Originally posted by Yuga
...Black scores well with it (Nc6/e6/a6/Nge7/Ng6) defense because white usually doesn't know the correct plan for dealing with the Nc6/e6/a6/Nge7/Ng6 though...

Indeed, this defence is frequently mis-played by white.
Correct after:
1.e4...c5
2.d4...cxd4
3.c3...dxc3
4.Nxc3...Nc6
5.Nf3...e6
6.Bc4...a6
7.0-0...N(g)e7

is the crucial
8.Bg5! then ...f6
9.Be3
when white (who actually knows what he's doing) scores well.

Originally posted by Squelchbelch
Indeed, this defence is frequently mis-played by white.
Correct after:
1.e4...c5
2.d4...cxd4
3.c3...dxc3
4.Nxc3...Nc6
5.Nf3...e6
6.Bc4...a6
7.0-0...N(g)e7

is the crucial
8.Bg5! then ...f6
9.Be3
when white (who actually knows what he's doing) scores well.

I actually do have that line in my analysis and I think it came from the chessville analysis.

The e6 square is very well covered if both the d and f pawns support it; that is why I prefer 6.Bf4 although there are stronger players playing the Bc4 line; the Landa-Kasparov game in which Kasparov was losing in the opening went down the 6.Bc4 line - your line seems ok for white; but maybe Black has better options perhaps like in the game below. I do not think 7.a4 was good for white in the game below; it seems slow.

Game 1715864

Originally posted by wittywonka
Nice game.

Do you have any particular book reccommendations for playing (as or against) the Smith-Morra?

Thanks.

The only resource someone needs to take this opening up as white or defend as black is The Modern Morra Gambit by H. Langrock.

I've heard about analysis from anti-Sicilian books & unfortunately some of the lines they quote against the Morra are outdated & based on non-optimal play from white.
You really need specialist help against openings like this - not a catch-all like the Palliser book - if you are to attack it in C.C against a regular Morra player.