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Smith-Morra Gambit

Smith-Morra Gambit

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1. e4 c5 2. d4

Do you like it? Pros and Cons?

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Originally posted by sydsad
1. e4 c5 2. d4

Do you like it? Pros and Cons?
Pros:
My current record on RHP with the Smith-Morra gambit:

P=17
D=1
L=3
W=13

Here are some wins:
Game 2579166
Game 2601238
Game 2717523
Game 2950352
Game 2950330
Game 2972094
Game 3034942
Game 3036402
Game 3234568
Game 3147441
Game 3094265

Cons:

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Nice summary!! Thank you!

The sequence:

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nb1xc3

....looks very promising for White. What does Black tend to play as move 4? What move is the "book move"?

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Black tends to play Nc6, d6 or e6 as his 4th moves. Anything else is incorrect & can be exploited fairly easily.
I wrote about alternate early moves for black & the opening in general here:
Thread 59687

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Oh, excellent thread!!

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As black I play

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d3

just for spite.. I don't know if it is any good though? Perhaps there are any good ways of declining the gambit?

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I've been playing this opening quite often lately as I'm tired of 2.Nf3 and getting into the Najdorf of Dragon variations. I've also been experimenting a little with 4. Bc4 to provoke 4...cxb2 and 5. Bxb2 with good pressure against the Kingside.

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Originally posted by sydsad
1. e4 c5 2. d4

Do you like it? Pros and Cons?
well, it's a gambit. cons: loses material. pros: fast development.

in CC I wouldn't even blink before taking the material and make my opponent prove his case.

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I forgot to mention that Chessmaster will often decline the c-pawn and play Nf6.

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The post that was quoted here has been removed
Well, 3..d6 is quite different from 3..d3. I think 3...d6 allows white to set up a nice centre, gives nice him development etc. But 3...d3 deprives him of the centre and the c3-square for his knight.

Besides that, I personally always had better results declining gambits, like the king's gambit for example. I do not like giving my opponent a chance to play his super-prepped attacking lines, it is psychologically wrong IMHO. Perhaps it is just me, but I do not feel safe then.

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Originally posted by Golub
Well, 3..d6 is quite different from 3..d3. I think 3...d6 allows white to set up a nice centre, gives nice him development etc. But 3...d3 deprives him of the centre and the c3-square for his knight.

Besides that, I personally always had better results declining gambits, like the king's gambit for example. I do not like giving my opponent a chance to play h ...[text shortened]... ng lines, it is psychologically wrong IMHO. Perhaps it is just me, but I do not feel safe then.
So, how do you usually play against the King's Gambit? Most of the people I play against seem to favor the Falkbeer-Counter Gambit, which can be tricky for both sides.

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Originally posted by wormwood
well, it's a gambit. cons: loses material. pros: fast development.

in CC I wouldn't even blink before taking the material and make my opponent prove his case.
Heres how to beat a player graded above 1900 in 10 moves with the Morra Gambit.

Game 3332441

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Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Heres how to beat a player graded above 1900 in 10 moves with the Morra Gambit.

Game 3332441
Nice!

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Originally posted by Dragon Fire
Heres how to beat a player graded above 1900 in 10 moves with the Morra Gambit.

Game 3332441
hahah! he walked right into the mate. 🙂