---

I’m definitely not an expert on the Smith-Morra Gambit, but I just love playing it against the Sicilian Defense! This game progressed in a flow that I’ve experienced before.

My opponent accepts the gambit, and we go down the main line of the Smith-Morra (1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3). Then, we both play mostly accurately in the opening. However, for the cost of one pawn, I gain an important advantage in development and the opportunity to castle rather earlier. And at the beginning of the middlegame, we’re equal [0.00], in a position that isn’t a Sicilian-ish line, and where Black doesn’t have an obvious advantage or immediate initiative. Lovely!

My tactic was to immediately attack down the centre. Stockfish didn’t think was correct, but it worked. Black stumbles against the pressure and goes from a small advantage on move 9 [-0.4], to a major deficit after panic castling their king out of centre on move 11 [+5.5], to a forced checkmate at high depth [+M15] on move 14!

The beginning of this mating line was a devastating DOUBLE CHECK (15. Nxf6+). This won material and smashed open Black’s position. My strategy at this point was clear – force piece trades and simplify down to an endgame. I missed a somewhat complicated [+M4] on move 21, opting to force a queen trade instead. The rest of the game was easy to play. Black continued valiantly in the endgame, but it was not possible for them to win. On move 36, Black trades their final rook for one of my pawns to prevent promotion and opts to resign rather than face the inevitable. GG!

The big takeaway is to try the Smith-Morra Gambit as a response against the dreaded Sicilian Defense! It’s not a killer blow, but it is reasonably solid and quite fun to play.

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/86593694759

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.08.24"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "CWhiter"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "B21"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Sicilian-Defense-Smith-Morra-Gambit-Accepted-4.Nxc3-Nc6-5.Bc4"]
[UTCDate "2023.08.24"]
[UTCTime "05:22:14"]
[WhiteElo "1342"]
[BlackElo "1217"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "05:22:14"]
[EndDate "2023.08.24"]
[EndTime "05:37:20"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/86593694759"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/129228562.0f37e890.50x50o.60b8f02eab3d.png"]
[BlackCountry "115"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:08.7]} 1... c5 {[%clk 0:15:04.4]} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:15:13.4]}
2... cxd4 {[%clk 0:15:10.1] Smith-Morra Gambit, Accepted [+0.1]} 3. c3 {[%clk
0:15:22.9]} 3... dxc3 {[%clk 0:15:19.1]} 4. Nxc3 {[%clk 0:15:32.1]} 4... Nc6
{[%clk 0:15:27.7]} 5. Bc4 {[%clk 0:15:39]} 5... a6 {[%clk 0:15:35.9]} 6. Nf3
{[%clk 0:15:47.5]} 6... d6 {[%clk 0:15:45.3]} 7. a4 {[%clk 0:15:30.2][%c_arrow
e1g1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false] This was to stop
further queenside expansion by Black. Stockfish believes that short castling is
better and thinks that this was a suboptimal move [-0.7]} 7... Nf6 {[%clk
0:15:48.3]} 8. O-O {[%clk 0:15:03.7]} 8... g6 $6 {[%clk 0:15:56.8][%c_effect
g6;square;g6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e7e6;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [0.00]}
9. Bg5 $6 {[%clk 0:14:48.6][%c_arrow
d1b3;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;b3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b3;persistent;false][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish thinks this is an
inaccuracy and overly aggressive [-0.4]} 9... Bg7 {[%clk 0:16:05.6]} 10. e5 $6
{[%clk 0:13:50.5][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h2h3;keyPressed;none;from;h2;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false] A provocative move to
open up the centre. Stockfish doesn't agree with the tactic [-1.2] but it's a
complicated position.} 10... Nd7 $2 {[%clk 0:16:04.3][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d6e5;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] Black should have
opened the centre with dxe5. This passive defensive move was a mistake giving me
the advantage and initative [+3]. Note: the e7 pawn is pinned to the queen by my
bishop.} 11. exd6 {[%clk 0:13:42.8]} 11... O-O $2 {[%clk 0:16:13.1][%c_arrow
d7f6;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Black panics and castles their king
out of the centre, but loses more material [+5.5]} 12. Re1 $6 {[%clk
0:13:06.9][%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d6e7;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false] Placing pressure on
the pinned piece $1 Stockfish thought this was a bit inaccurate [+4.6] and thinks
that dxe7 was best.} 12... Re8 $2 {[%clk 0:16:18.8][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7b6;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false] A mistake [+6.8]} 13.
dxe7 {[%clk 0:12:40.7]} 13... Nxe7 {[%clk 0:16:25.9]} 14. Nd5 {[%clk 0:12:37.3]}
14... f6 $4 {[%clk 0:16:34.3][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Surprinsingly, at high depth, this is
a blunder with a forced checkmate at no longer than [+M15] $1 Can you find the
best next move $2} 15. Nxf6+ {[%clk 0:11:59.1][%c_arrow
f6g8;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,c4g8;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false] Double check $1} 15...
Kh8 {[%clk 0:16:29.1]} 16. Nxe8 {[%clk 0:11:47.7]} 16... Qxe8 {[%clk 0:16:36.5]}
17. Rxe7 {[%clk 0:11:38.6]} 17... Qf8 {[%clk 0:16:36.9]} 18. Rxd7 {[%clk
0:10:51.7] I didn't see a checkmate so my strategy was to simplify and win the
endgame up material} 18... Bxd7 {[%clk 0:16:45.6]} 19. Qxd7 {[%clk 0:10:57.8]}
19... Bf6 {[%clk 0:16:54.9]} 20. Bxf6+ {[%clk 0:10:43.1]} 20... Qxf6 {[%clk
0:17:03.7]} 21. Qd4 $6 {[%clk 0:10:28.9][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3g5;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] This was an
inaccuracy as I had a [+M4]. However, my goal was to force a queen trade.}
({Checkmate line - a little complicated...} 21. Ng5 {[%c_arrow
d7h7;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false,g5h7;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false]} 21... Qg7 22. Nf7+
Kg8 23. Nd8+ Kf8 24. Ne6+ Kg8 25. Qxg7#) 21... Qxd4 {[%clk 0:17:11.2]} 22. Nxd4
{[%clk 0:10:38]} 22... Rc8 {[%clk 0:17:19.9]} 23. Be6 {[%clk 0:09:26.6]} 23...
Rd8 {[%clk 0:17:27.3]} 24. Nf3 {[%clk 0:09:12.8]} 24... Re8 {[%clk 0:17:32]} 25.
Ng5 {[%clk 0:09:15.1]} 25... Kg7 {[%clk 0:17:40.2]} 26. Bd5 {[%clk 0:08:46.9]}
26... Re5 {[%clk 0:17:44.6]} 27. Bxb7 {[%clk 0:08:17.4]} 27... Rxg5 {[%clk
0:17:48]} 28. Bxa6 {[%clk 0:08:24.6] A little inelegant, but I've an unloseable
endgame} 28... Rc5 {[%clk 0:17:55.1]} 29. b4 {[%clk 0:08:23.4]} 29... Rc6 {[%clk
0:18:01.3]} 30. b5 {[%clk 0:08:31.8]} 30... Rc2 {[%clk 0:18:08.6]} 31. b6 {[%clk
0:08:20.2]} 31... Rb2 {[%clk 0:18:04.5]} 32. a5 {[%clk 0:08:20.5]} 32... Kf6
{[%clk 0:18:11.9]} 33. Bc8 {[%clk 0:08:25.2]} 33... Ke7 {[%clk 0:18:17.3]} 34.
b7 {[%clk 0:08:33.8]} 34... Kd8 {[%clk 0:18:26.4]} 35. a6 {[%clk 0:08:37.8]}
35... Kc7 {[%clk 0:18:35.8]} 36. a7 {[%clk 0:08:40.8]} 36... Rxb7 {[%clk
0:18:36.1][%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;Winner,c7;square;c7;type;ResignBlack]
Black is forced to trade their rook for one of my pawns, but seeing the writing
on the wall [+M6] opts to resign prior to my next move $1 GG $1} 1-0